The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Linen \Lin"en\, n. [Prop. an adj. from OE. lin flax, AS.
   l[imac]n flax, whence l[imac]nen made of flax; akin to OS.,
   Icel., & MHG. l[imac]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.; as, bed linens "In linen white
      as milk." --Robert of Brunne.
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   2. Underclothing, esp. the shirt, as being, in former times,
      chiefly made of linen.
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   Linen draper, a dealer in linen.

   Linen prover, a small microscope for counting the threads
      in a given space in linen fabrics.

   Linen scroll, Linen pattern (Arch.), an ornament for
      filling panels, copied from the folds of a piece of stuff
      symmetrically disposed.
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