Definition of lint

The word "lint" originated from the Middle English 'lynt' around the 14th century. The etymology of the term can be traced back to the Old English word 'lenct', which meant 'cotton waste' or 'linen scraps'. In Old English, 'lenct' referred to the by-products created during the production of linen. The term was applied to the fine, cottony fibers that clung to the wool of sheep during the shearing process. As the woolen textile industry grew in the Middle ages, the word 'lint' became commonly used to describe both linen scraps and the cottony debris produced during the cleaning of woolen cloth. Today, lint is commonly associated with clothing. It is the soft and fuzzy material that accumulates inside clothes, such as pockets and charming garters, during washing and drying cycles. Lint can be made up of a variety of fibrous materials, including linen, cotton, and synthetic materials produced through modern textile production techniques. In summary, the origin of the word 'lint' dates back to the Middle ages, where it referred to the by-products of linen production, and has since evolved to describe a variety of waste fibers found in clothing today.