linen Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant
  2. noun a high-quality paper made of linen fibers or with a linen finish
    linen paper.
  3. noun white goods or clothing made with linen cloth

WordNet

Lin"en adjective
Etymology
OE., fr. lin linen. See Linen, n.
Definitions
  1. Made of linen; as, linen cloth; a linen stocking.
  2. Resembling linen cloth; white; pale.
Lin"en noun
Etymology
Prop. an adj. from OE. lin. flax, AS. lin flax, whence linen made of flax; akin to OS., Icel., & MHG. lin flax and linen, G. lein, leinen, linen, Sw. lin flax, Goth. lein linen, L. linum flax, linen, Gr. . Cf. Line, Linseed.
Definitions
  1. Thread or cloth made of flax or (rarely) of hemp; -- used in a general sense to include cambric, shirting, sheeting, towels, tablecloths, etc. "In linen white as milk." Robert of Brunne.
  2. Underclothing, esp. the shirt, as being, in former times, chiefly made of linen. 3. pl. bed linens bed linens, sheets and pillowcases for a bed.

Webster 1913