fine-mesh
UK[ˌfaɪn ˈmeʃ]US[ˌfaɪn ˈmeʃ]
adj
Having a net, screen, or filter with very small, closely spaced openings.
n
A material or screen with very small, closely spaced openings.
Morpheme Breakdown
fine
mesh
fine
very small
mesh
network of crossing strands
Etymology
The compound 'fine-mesh' is a transparent combination of two English words. 'Fine' originates from the Latin finis, which meant 'end' or 'boundary', evolving through Old French to acquire the sense of 'delicate' or 'minute'. 'Mesh' has a robust Germanic pedigree, descending from the Old English max, meaning 'net'. The compound's logic is entirely literal: a 'fine mesh' is a net or screen characterized by openings that are 'fine'—that is, very small and closely set. This descriptive term is applied directly to filters, sieves, and fabrics where the size of the openings is a critical functional property.
Analysis
Structure: fine (very small) + mesh (network of crossing strands)
- fine: From Latin finis (end, boundary, limit), via Old French fin (delicate, exact). In this compound, it functions as an adjective meaning 'of very small size or texture'.
- mesh: From Middle English mesche, from Old English max (net), from Proto-Germanic maskwǭ. It functions as a noun meaning 'a material made of a network of wire, thread, or other crossing strands'.
Examples
Use a fine-mesh strainer to remove the seeds from the raspberry puree.
The insect screen is made of a durable fine-mesh nylon.
For a smoother sauce, pass it through a fine-mesh sieve.