# Lin

/ˈɫɪn/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lin
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. waterfall or pool

noun · CEFR C2 · Dialect · British English

a waterfall or the deep pool of water at the bottom of a waterfall.

For teachers: a variant spelling of 'linn', referring to a precipice, a waterfall, or the pool beneath a cataract.

- The hikers stopped to rest by the cool water of the lin.
- The river narrows significantly before plunging over the rocks into a deep, dark lin that has carved into the limestone over centuries.

Usage: Commonly found in Scottish and Northern English place names.

### 2. flax or linen

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Dialect

an old word for flax, which is the plant used to make linen cloth.

For teachers: an alternative form of 'line', referring specifically to flax or the fibres derived from it for textile production.

- In the old story, the woman spent her days spinning lin into thread.
- The historical records mention the local production of lin, suggesting that flax cultivation was a primary industry for the village in the eighteenth century.

### 3. to stop

verb · CEFR C2 · Dialect · Archaic

to stop doing something or to come to an end.

For teachers: to desist, cease, or leave off an action.

- The rain did not lin all day, so we stayed inside.
- The old man grumbled that the noise from the construction site would never lin, even after the sun had set.

Usage: Usually used in the negative or in contexts of persistent action.

## Examples

- 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 EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.