linseed
(ˈlɪnsiːd)
Forms: α. See line n.1 and seed. β. 6 lint(e)seede, 7 lyntseed, 7–9 north. dial. lintseed.
[OE. l{iacu}n line n.1 + sǽd seed; cf. MHG. lînsât, Du. lijnzaad.
The form lint-seed, which is strictly to be regarded as a distinct word, f. lint, is in Scotland used of seed intended to be sown, while the ordinary form is current in other applications.]
a. The seed of flax, well known as the source of linseed-oil, and as a medicament. † Occas. the flax-plant. oil of linseed(s = linseed-oil.
| c 1000 Sax. Leechd. I. 140 Genim þas ylcan wyrte seoð..mid linsæde. a 1100 Gerefa in Anglia (1886) IX. 262 Mederan settan, linsed sawan. 13.. S.E. Leg. (MS. Bodl. 779) in Herrig Archiv LXXXII. 311/217 Of linsed & of eyrin & of oþer þing men conne al day oyle out bring. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xvii. xcvii. (1495) 664 Lyne sede nourissheth but lytyll: and is hard to defye. c 1420 Pallad. on Husb. xi. 15 Now lynseed, yf the liketh, may be sowe. 1532–3 Act. 24 Hen. VIII, c. 4 [They shall] till and and sowe..one roode..with line sede, otherwise called flaxe sede. 1578 Lyte Dodoens i. xlix. 71 Lynseede mengled with hony..appeaseth the cough. 1626 A. Speed Adam out of E. xv. (1659) 114 The drosse or that which is left after the pressing out of Lyntseeds. 1661 Lovell Hist. Anim. & Min. 418 The catarrhe..if from repletion, it's helped by line-seed, with honey. 1686 W. Aglionby Painting Illustr. i. 27 The Secret of Oyl Painting, consists in using Colours that are Ground with Oyl of Nut, or Linseed. 1712 tr. Pomet's Hist. Drugs I. 37 Leaves, like those of Linseed but larger, greener. and more viscous. 1729 (title) Short Rules and Observations for Sowing of Lint-seed and Hemp⁓seed. 1782 J. Mill Diary in Shetland Minister 18th Cent. (1897) 112 A decoction of 2 oz. lint seed, 2 do. of Liquorish-stick bruised and boiled [etc.]. 1807 Med. Jrnl. XVII. 554 The..barley water, and infusion of linseed were ordered to be continued. 1823 J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. 30 Having dipped the fore-finger and thumb partially in oil of linseeds. 1847 M. Howitt Ballads 66 And some they brought the brown lint-seed, And flung it down from the Low. 1872 Oliver Elem. Bot. ii. 148 The seeds of the Flax plant, called Linseed, are very largely imported. |
b. attrib. and
Comb., as
linseed-shaped adj.;
linseed cake, linseed pressed into cakes in the process of extracting the oil, and used as food for cattle;
linseed-earth (see
quot.);
linseed-meal, linseed ground in a mill;
linseed-oil, the oil obtained by pressure from linseed;
linseed poultice, a poultice made of linseed or linseed-meal;
linseed-tea, an infusion of linseed, used as a demulcent.
| 1813 Sir H. Davy Agric. Chem. (1814) 365 Cattle at first refuse *Linseed cake. |
| 1883 Gresley Gloss. Coal-mining, *Linseed Earth, blackish grey clay suitable for making into firebricks. |
| 1599 A. M. tr. Gabelhouer's Bk. Physicke 68/1 With *lintseede meale make a little paest. 1839 Penny Cycl. XIII. 384/1 Cataplasms of linseed-meal. |
| 1548 Privy-Council Acts (1890) II. 174 *Lyncede oyle, xx galons. 1726 Leoni tr. Alberti's Archit. II. 15/2 Colours mixed up with lintseed oyl. 1879 G. Gladstone in Cassell's Techn. Educ. IV. 192/1 In oil-gilding the size used is made of a mixture of boiled linseed-oil and ochre. |
| 1833 Cycl. Pract. Med. II. 813/2 A common bread and water or *lintseed poultice. |
| 1870 T. Holmes Syst. Surg. (ed. 2) I. 703 The knots [of farcy] are small and *linseed-shaped. |
| 1741 Baker in Phil. Trans. XLI. 659 When I went to-bed, drank some *Linseed-tea. |
Hence
linseeded ppl. a., mixed with linseed.
| 1864 Spectator 27 Feb. 228/2 The Bill for allowing linseeded malt to escape duty passed its second reading. |