Talk:cotton

Ety 2: get along with
It says "Generally used with prepositions on, to; see cotton on, cotton to." Is it ever used without these prepositions? Can you "cotton someone"? Equinox ◑ 15:52, 1 June 2019 (UTC)

RFV discussion: May–June 2019
Rfv-sense: "(transitive) To provide with cotton."

No cites. It may well be that rewording will be required. One def. might be "to insert a wad of cotton into a container of tablets etc.".

Also, we don't have two senses that Century had: "To rise with a nap, like cotton." and "To envelop in cotton; hence, to coddle; make much of."

The latter is in addition to the definitions "To agree; suit; fit or go well together." and "To become closely or intimately associated (with); acquire a strong liking (for); take (to): absolutely or with to, formerly with.", which we have under Etymology 2. DCDuring (talk) 13:26, 31 May 2019 (UTC)


 * cited - I have subdivided this into various special cases, as well as adding two cites for cases that seem more like one-offs. Kiwima (talk) 04:55, 1 June 2019 (UTC)
 * Wow. I wonder how that compares to OED coverage of the verb. DCDuring (talk) 15:49, 1 June 2019 (UTC)

RFV-passed Kiwima (talk) 22:54, 8 June 2019 (UTC)

Cotton as fluff from certain trees
There is one sense of "cotton" that isn't mentioned here: the fluff that certain types of tree (cottonwoods) shed as a means of dispersing their seeds. Examples are the cotton from willows, aspen, and poplars. Should this sense be added? I've found articles on the Internet that use "cotton" in this sense, although I'm not sure that conventional dictionaries mention it. Bathrobe (talk) 06:33, 16 June 2024 (UTC)