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 best of this hard-wearing cotton was made into trousers called nankeen trousers or breeches," she said.

From BBC

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 Literature

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.

From New York Times

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.

From Project Gutenberg

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.

From Project Gutenberg