Linen

6 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Linen \Lin"en\ (l[i^]n"[e^]n), a. [OE., fr. lin linen. See
     {Linen}, n.]
     1. Made of linen; as, linen cloth; a linen stocking.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Resembling linen cloth; white; pale.


        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Linen \Lin"en\, n. [Prop. an adj. from OE. lin flax, AS.
     l[imac]n flax, whence l[imac]nen made of flax; akin to OS.,
     Icel., & MHG. l[imac]n flax and linen, G. lein, leinen,
     linen, Sw. lin flax, Goth. lein linen, L. linum flax, linen,
     Gr. li`non. Cf. {Line}, {Linseed}.]
     1. Thread or cloth made of flax or (rarely) of hemp; -- used
        in a general sense to include cambric, shirting, sheeting,
        towels, tablecloths, etc.; as, bed linens "In linen white
        as milk." --Robert of Brunne.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Underclothing, esp. the shirt, as being, in former times,
        chiefly made of linen.
        [1913 Webster]
        [1913 Webster]
  
     {Linen draper}, a dealer in linen.
  
     {Linen prover}, a small microscope for counting the threads
        in a given space in linen fabrics.
  
     {Linen scroll}, {Linen pattern} (Arch.), an ornament for
        filling panels, copied from the folds of a piece of stuff
        symmetrically disposed.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  linen
       n 1: a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
       2: a high-quality paper made of linen fibers or with a linen
          finish [syn: {linen paper}]
       3: white goods or clothing made with linen cloth

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  96 Moby Thesaurus words for "linen":
     Skivvies, afghan, apparel, array, attire, bed linen, bedclothes,
     bedcover, bedding, bedizenment, bedsheet, bedspread, blanket,
     blouse, bodice, body clothes, bodywear, buffalo robe, case,
     clothes, clothing, comfort, comforter, contour sheet, corsage,
     costume, counterpane, cover, coverlet, coverlid, dickey, drapery,
     dress, dressing, dry goods, duds, eiderdown, fashion, fatigues,
     feathers, fig, fitted sheet, flannels, garb, garments, gear, guise,
     habiliment, habit, investiture, investment, lap robe,
     leather goods, leatherware, linens, lingerie, napery,
     patchwork quilt, pillow slip, pillowcase, quilt, rags, raiment,
     robe, robes, rug, sheet, sheeting, shift, shirt, slip,
     smallclothes, soft goods, sporting goods, sportswear, spread,
     style, textiles, threads, togs, toilette, trim, underclothes,
     underclothing, undergarments, underlinen, underwear, undies,
     unmentionables, vestment, vesture, waist, wear, wearing apparel,
     white goods, yard goods
  
  

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary [easton]:

  Linen
     (1.) Heb., pishet, pishtah, denotes "flax," of which linen is
     made (Isa. 19:9); wrought flax, i.e., "linen cloth", Lev. 13:47,
     48, 52, 59; Deut. 22:11.
     
       Flax was early cultivated in Egypt (Ex. 9:31), and also in
     Palestine (Josh. 2:6; Hos. 2:9). Various articles were made of
     it: garments (2 Sam. 6:14), girdles (Jer. 13:1), ropes and
     thread (Ezek. 40:3), napkins (Luke 24:12; John 20:7), turbans
     (Ezek. 44:18), and lamp-wicks (Isa. 42:3).
     
       (2.) Heb. buts, "whiteness;" rendered "fine linen" in 1 Chr.
     4:21; 15:27; 2 Chr. 2:14; 3:14; Esther 1:6; 8:15, and "white
     linen" 2 Chr. 5:12. It is not certain whether this word means
     cotton or linen.
     
       (3.) Heb. bad; rendered "linen" Ex. 28:42; 39:28; Lev. 6:10;
     16:4, 23, 32; 1 Sam. 2:18; 2 Sam. 6:14, etc. It is uniformly
     used of the sacred vestments worn by the priests. The word is
     from a root signifying "separation."
     
       (4.) Heb. shesh; rendered "fine linen" Ex. 25:4; 26:1, 31, 36,
     etc. In Prov. 31:22 it is rendered in Authorized Version "silk,"
     and in Revised Version "fine linen." The word denotes Egyptian
     linen of peculiar whiteness and fineness (byssus). The finest
     Indian linen, the finest now made, has in an inch one hundred
     threads of warp and eighty-four of woof; while the Egyptian had
     sometimes one hundred and forty in the warp and sixty-four in
     the woof. This was the usual dress of the Egyptian priest.
     Pharaoh arrayed Joseph in a dress of linen (Gen. 41:42).
     
       (5.) Heb. 'etun. Prov. 7:16, "fine linen of Egypt;" in Revised
     Version, "the yarn of Egypt."
     
       (6.) Heb. sadin. Prov. 31:24, "fine linen;" in Revised
     Version, "linen garments" (Judg. 14:12, 13; Isa. 3:23). From
     this Hebrew word is probably derived the Greek word sindon,
     rendered "linen" in Mark 14:51, 52; 15:46; Matt. 27:59.
     
       The word "linen" is used as an emblem of moral purity (Rev.
     15:6). In Luke 16:19 it is mentioned as a mark of luxury.
     

From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:

  LINEN, n.  "A kind of cloth the making of which, when made of hemp,
  entails a great waste of hemp." -- Calcraft the Hangman.