linsey-woolsey

See also: linseywoolsey

English

Etymology

Diminutive of linen and wool. See -y, -ey.

Noun

linsey-woolsey (countable and uncountable, plural linsey-woolseys)

1. A fabric made of both linen and wool.
   • 1599, [Thomas] Nashe, “To His Readers, Hee Cares Not What They Be”, in Nashes Lenten Stuffe, […], London: […] [Thomas Judson and Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] L[ing] and C[uthbert] B[urby] […], →OCLC:

     I had as lieue haue no ſunne, as haue it ſhine faintly, no fire, as a ſmothering fire of ſmall coales, no cloathes, rather then weare linſey wolſey.

2. (figurative, archaic) Worthless material; nonsense; gibberish.
   • c. 1604–1605 (date written), William Shakespeare, “All’s Well, that Ends Well”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:

     what linsey-woolsey hast thou to speak

Synonyms

• wincey
• woolsey

Derived terms

• linsey

Adjective

linsey-woolsey

1. Mean; shoddy; of unsuitable composition.