[A] [B] [C] [D] [E] [F] [G] [H] [I] [J] [K] [L] [M] [N] [O] [P] [Q] [R] [S] [T] [U] [V] [W] [X] [Y] [Z] [FULL LIST]

linsey noun A strong, coarse fabric, the warp of which is linen (later cotton) and the web of which is woolen.

1862 Lockmiller CW Letters (Sept 25) I hav got you a lincy shirt an apar of Slips. 1913 Morley Carolina Mts 194 Even the coarse “jeans” for her men’s clothing and the “linsey cloth” for her own are regarded by her with affectionate pride, for has she not created them out of nothing, you might say? 1931 Goodrich Mt Homespun 11 In winter no one need be cold, for there was linsey-woolsey (contracted now to linsey) originally woven, as its full name implies, of woolen thread on a linen warp. Long ago cotton was substituted for the linen. The weaving of this was what is called plain weaving, drawn in without need of a pattern, on two sets of harness and tramped with two treadles. If striped, the striping ran across the web, as the colors could readily be changed in the shuttles at the will of the weaver, while the chain must remain of one color throughout the web. In a plain but bright color the linsey was often made up into winter shirts or jerkins for the men, and either plain or striped it furnished petticoats and dresses for the women and girls. 1956 Hall Coll (Waynesville NC) You must remember that women in those days wore a great many long petticoats that swept the ground. They were home-made from what was called linsey cloth.