[Zulu: see quot. 1899.] A South African name for a kind of coarse calico.
1891. Pall Mall Gaz., 9 Nov., 6/2. This present is accompanied by a quantity of limbo (a coarse quality of calico).
1896. Alice B. Balfour, 1200 Miles in Waggon, 62. Bright-coloured cotton stuff (‘limbo,’ as it is called here).
1899. B. Mitford, J. Ames, ii. 14. A dark blue fabric, commonly called by the whites ‘limbo,’ being a corruption of the native name ‘ulembu,’ which signifieth ‘web.’
