I. ˈlinə̇n adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English līnen, from līn flax, spun or woven flax + -en; akin to Old High German & Old Norse līn flax, Gothic lein linen cloth; all from a prehistoric Germanic word borrowed from Latin linum flax, linen, probably of non-Indo-European origin; akin to the source of Greek linon cord, flax
1.
a. : made of flax
waxed linen thread
b. : being or made of linen
linen cloth
a linen blouse
2. : like that of linen
a linen finish
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from linen, adjective
1.
a. : cloth made of flax and noted for its strength, coolness, and luster though somewhat subject to creasing — see butcher linen
b. : thread or yarn spun from flax
2.
a. : clothing (as shirts, underwear) or household articles (as sheets, tablecloths) made or originally made of linen cloth and now usually of other fabrics (as cotton, rayon)
washed out her linen every evening
had a good stock of linens
b. obsolete : a piece bandage of linen cloth
c. archaic : a wrapping of linen for the dead : graveclothes — often used in plural
3. : linen paper