Pronunciation:
[lin-en]

 
Origin:
Linen textiles appear to be some of the oldest in the world: their history goes back many thousands of years. Fragments of straw, seeds, fibers, yarns, and various types of fabrics, which date back to about 8000 B.C., have been found in Swiss lake dwellings.

Definition:
Flax is the plant, linen is the product from flax. The term, linen, cannot be used except for natural fiber flax. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather. The collective term linens is still often used generically to describe a class of woven and even knitted bed, bath, table and, kitchen textiles. The name linens is retained because traditionally, linen was used for many of these items.