n. 1. A fine film of cobwebs spun by small spiders often seen floating in the air or caught on bushes and grass, usually in autumn. 2. A light, delicate, thin, or sheer substance or material.
adj. Sheer light, or delicate.
Gossamer comes from the Middle English gossomer: gos, “goose” + somer, “summer”. This probably comes from the abundance of gossamer during early autumn, St. Martin’s summer, when geese migrate and are often hunted.
Usage of the word according to the Google Books Ngram Viewer:
http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/gossamer?searchDictCode=all
“Gossamer.” The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language. 5th ed. 2011. Print.
bumbershoots 
Reblogged this on Gelatinous and commented:
The sound of the word alone is lovely