Linoleum

Linoleum

Noun · /lɪˈnəʊ.li.əm/

Definition

A type of hard-wearing floor covering made from a mixture of solidified linseed oil, cork dust or wood flour, and other materials pressed onto a canvas or burlap backing; originally a specific patented product, now a generic term for similar floor coverings.

Origin

Coined in 1863 by its inventor Frederick Walton, from Latin linum (flax) + oleum (oil). Linoleum is made using oxidised linseed oil — linseed being the seed of the flax plant. Walton coined a Latin-derived trade name reflecting the key ingredients. The word became generic as the product proliferated.