nankeen

[ nan-keen ]

noun

1. a firm, durable, yellow or buff fabric, formerly made from a natural-colored Chinese cotton.
2. a twilled material made from other cotton and dyed in imitation of this fabric.
3. nankeens, garments made of this material.
4. a yellow or buff color.
5. Also called Nankeen porcelain,. a type of Chinese porcelain having blue ornament on a white ground.

nankeen

/ ˈnænkɪn; næŋˈkiːn /

noun

1. a hard-wearing buff-coloured cotton fabric
2. 1. a pale greyish-yellow colour
   2. ( as adjective )

      a nankeen carpet

Word History and Origins

Origin of nankeen¹

1745–55; after Nankin Nanking, where first made

Word History and Origins

Origin of nankeen¹

C18: named after Nanking, China, where it originated

Example Sentences

The service very smart: six men-servants, chestnut livery in winter, nankeen livery in summer.

From Project Gutenberg

He was a tall, spare man, dressed in nankeen jacket and trousers, with a large-brimmed straw-hat upon his head.

From Project Gutenberg

The Nankeen coloured and the black are the greatest favourites.

From Project Gutenberg

His nankeen trousers were freshly pressed, and his blue frock-coat looked as if it had come straight from the tailor.

From Project Gutenberg

She also saw with surprise that his nankeen trousers were stained, as if he had been kneeling on damp ground.

From Project Gutenberg