linen

Meaning

Noun

1. (uncountable) Thread or cloth made from flax fiber.
2. (countable) Domestic textiles, such as tablecloths, bedding, towels, underclothes, etc., that are made of linen or linen-like fabrics of cotton or other fibers; linens.
3. (countable, uncountable) A light beige colour, like that of linen cloth undyed.

Adj

1. (not-comparable) Made from linen cloth or thread.
2. (not-comparable) Having the colour linen, light beige.

Synonyms

flax

canvas

hemp

cloth

linen paper

material

sailcloth

underwear

silk

linen cloth

fabric

crash

denim

flaxen

laundry

napkin

sackcloth

sacking

sheeting

textile

textiles

flax fabrics

silk cloth

hemp cloth

made of linen

of linen

bandana

dhobying

bandanna

bedclothes

bedding

blanket

buckram

bunting

cambric

clothing

cotton cloth

covering

Translations

lin

Leinen

lino

toile

linnen

lino

linho

Leinwand

ασπρόρουχα

lli

doek

Flachs

λινό

Wäsche

🧽

Linnen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈlɪnɪn/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: lynnen

Inherited from Old English: līnen

Cognate with Latin: līnum

In summary

From Middle English lynnen, lynen, from Old English līnen (“linen", "made of flax”), from Proto-West Germanic *līnīn (“made of flax”), from Proto-Germanic *līną (“flax”), from Proto-Indo-European *līno- (“flax”), equivalent to line + -en. Cognate with Latin līnum (“flax”) and thus also Linum. More at line.