from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Nankeen \Nan*keen"\, n. [So called from its being originally
manufactured at Nankin (Nanjing), in China.] [Written also
{nankin}.]
1. A species of cloth, of a firm texture, originally brought
from China, made of a species of cotton ({Gossypium
religiosum}) that is naturally of a brownish yellow color
quite indestructible and permanent.
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2. An imitation of this cloth by artificial coloring.
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3. pl. Trousers made of nankeen. --Ld. Lytton.
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{Nankeen bird} (Zool.), the Australian night heron
({Nycticorax Caledonicus}); -- called also {quaker}.
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