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nankeen
cloth
nankeen, durable, firm-textured cotton cloth originally made in China and now imitated in various countries. The name is derived from Nanjing, the city in which the cloth is said to have been originally manufactured.
The characteristic yellowish colour of nankeen is attributed to the peculiar colour of the cotton from which it was originally made. The cloth is finished without size or bleach.
This article was most recently revised and updated by Kathleen Kuiper.
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