linoleum

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a durable floor covering traditionally made from solidified linseed oil on a canvas or similar backing

   A dark stain spread across the kitchen linoleum.

2. 2
   noun

   flooring that resembles traditional linoleum, especially resilient sheet flooring made from synthetic material

   The contractor replaced the cracked linoleum with a modern vinyl sheet.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Linoleum was named in the late 19th century from Latin linum, "flax," and oleum, "oil." The name refers to the linseed oil from which the material was originally made.

Coined in the 1860s by English inventor Frederick Walton from Latin linum ("flax") + oleum ("oil"), because the original material used oxidized linseed oil. The trade name became generic for this type of resilient floor covering.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary