NOUN (2)

1. fine ravellings of cotton or linen fibers;

2. cotton or linen fabric with the nap raised on one side; used to dress wounds;

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Lint \Lint\ (l[i^]nt), n. [AS. l[imac]net flax, hemp, fr.
   l[imac]n flax; or, perh. borrowed fr. L. linteum a linen
   cloth, linen, from linteus linen, a., fr. linum flax, lint.
   See Linen.]
   1. Flax.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Linen scraped or otherwise made into a soft, downy or
      fleecy substance for dressing wounds and sores; also, fine
      ravelings, down, fluff, or loose short fibers from yarn or
      fabrics.
      [1913 Webster]

   Lint doctor (Calico-printing Mach.), a scraper to remove
      lint from a printing cylinder.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

lint
    n 1: fine ravellings of cotton or linen fibers
    2: cotton or linen fabric with the nap raised on one side; used
       to dress wounds

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (19 January 2023):

lint

   A Unix C language processor which carries out more
   thorough checks on the code than is usual with C compilers.

   Lint is named after the bits of fluff it supposedly picks from
   programs.  Judging by references on Usenet this term has
   become a shorthand for desk check at some non-Unix shops,
   even in languages other than C.  Also used as delint.

   [Jargon File]

   (1994-11-14)


The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):

lint


    [from Unix's lint(1), named for the bits of fluff it supposedly picks from
    programs]

    1. vt. To examine a program closely for style, language usage, and
    portability problems, esp. if in C, esp. if via use of automated analysis
    tools, most esp. if the Unix utility lint(1) is used. This term used to be
    restricted to use of lint(1) itself, but (judging by references on Usenet)
    it has become a shorthand for any exhaustive review process at some
    non-Unix shops, even in languages other than C. Also as v. delint.

    2. n. Excess verbiage in a document, as in “This draft has too much lint”.