nankeen

Also nan·kin

[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 Nanking china,. Also called Nankeen porcelain,. Also called Nanking ware. 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 best of this hard-wearing cotton was made into trousers called nankeen trousers or breeches," she said.

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When Francie spoke to him, he folded his hands in the wide sleeves of his nankeen shirt coat and kept his eyes on the ground.

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Tucked down a winding lane across the street is fabric of a more traditional sort — indigo cloth hand-printed with intricate floral designs known as blue nankeen.

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In China, the cargo of furs would go out and a cargo of nankeens, teas, and silks go in, with a great margin of profit at both ends.

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It was an affair of many flounces and furbelows, the colour nankeen and ivory, the material very fine silk with a profusion of Mechlin lace.

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