n. & adj.
--n.
1. a cloth woven from flax. b a particular kind of this.
2 (collect.) articles made or orig. made of linen, calico, etc., as sheets, cloths, shirts, undergarments, etc.
--adj. made of linen or flax (linen cloth).
Phrases and idioms:
linen basket a basket for soiled clothes. wash one's dirty linen in public be indiscreet about one's domestic quarrels etc.
Etymology: OE linen f. WG, rel. to obs. line flax