lin
n. uncountablen. a type of strong, thin thread or string made from flax. It is often used for sewing or making nets.
n. a fine, strong thread or cord made of flax. Historically used in textile manufacturing and net-making; now largely replaced by synthetic alternatives in general contexts.
The fisherman mended his old net with a piece of lin.
The weaver selected a high-quality lin to ensure the fabric would be both durable and fine.
While modern factories prefer nylon for its elasticity, traditional workshops still value lin for its historical authenticity and specific tactile qualities in high-end garment production.
From Chinese: compare Mandarin 林 (lín), Gan 林 (lin⁴), Wu 林, Xiang 林 (lin²). 林 itself is composed of a reduplication of 木 (“wood, tree”). Literally, “forest”.
From Mandarin 臨／临 (Lín).
Primarily found in technical, historical, or dialectal contexts related to textiles.