nankeen

American  

[nan-keen] / nænˈkin /

Also nankin

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.

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nankeen British  

/ ˈnænkɪn, næŋˈkiːn /

noun

1. a hard-wearing buff-coloured cotton fabric

2. 1. a pale greyish-yellow colour

   2. ( as adjective )

      a nankeen carpet

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Etymology

Origin of nankeen

1745–55; after Nankin Nanking, where first made

Example Sentences

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.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

The person who had admitted him, a very small, very neat gentleman in a high-collared blue coat and nankeen trousers, with a redundant soft cravat wound about his thin neck, bowed low.

From Chippinge Borough by Weyman, Stanley J.

Ay, faith, and money was very scarce with me when I gave old Denny Nolan five shillings for the loan of his nankeen jacket to perform the part of waiter at the little inn.

From The Knight Of Gwynne, Vol. II (of II) by Lever, Charles James

We made a handsome couple, you and I. You wore a crinoline, with a black bombazine tippet; and I was in nankeen overalls and a fob.

From A Knight on Wheels by Hay, Ian

He wore a sky-blue coat, and trousers of nankeen; his white stockings were rolled down to his shoes.

From The Sword of Honor, volumes 1 & 2 or The Foundation of the French Republic, A Tale of The French Revolution by Sue, Eug?ne