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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LinenLinen ( /ˈlɪnɨn/) is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather.
The word "linen" is cognate with the Latin for the flax plant, which is linum, and the earlier Greek linon. This word history has given rise to a number of other notable terms in English, the most notable of which is the English word line, derived from the use of a linen (flax) thread to determine a straight line.