From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
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.
[1913 Webster]
2. Underclothing, esp. the shirt, as being, in former times,
chiefly made of linen.
[1913 Webster]
[1913 Webster]
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.
[1913 Webster]