Hypertext Webster Gateway: "Linen"
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 Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
2. Resembling linen cloth; white; pale.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Linen \Lin"en\, n. [Prop. an adj. from OE. lin flax, AS. l[=i]n
flax, whence l[=i]nen made of flax; akin to OS., Icel., &
MHG. l[=i]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. ``In linen white as milk.''
--Robert of Brunne.
2. Underclothing, esp. the shirt, as being, in former times,
chiefly made of linen.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (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
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