sericulture

noun

Etymology: Possibly borrowed from French sériculture, a modification of French sériciculture (“sericulture”) (or directly from sériciculture), from Late Latin sēricum (“Chinese goods, especially silk”) + French culture (“crop; culture”). Sēricum is derived from Latin sēricus (“of or pertaining to the Seres or Chinese; (by extension) made of silk, silken”), from Sēres (“northern Chinese people”), from Ancient Greek Σῆρες (Sêres, “the Chinese people; the land of the Chinese, China”), plural of Σήρ (Sḗr, “(rare, usually in plural) Chinese person; silkworm”), possibly from Old Chinese 絲 (*slɯ, “silk”).

1. The rearing of silkworms for the production of silk.

   “Numerous experiments have been made with a view to improving sericulture in India.”

   “Very soon after sericulture had, by these means, been established, its profits in one year exceeded the large reward given by the state of California. Looking to the character of the population of this Colony [New Zealand], and the manner in which it would probably be settled, the promotion of sericulture was a most important object, as affording a prospect of useful employment to a large number of persons.”