Forms: α. See LINE sb.1 and SEED. β. 6 lint(e)seede, 7 lyntseed, 7–9 north. dial. lintseed. [OE. lín LINE sb.1 + sǽd seed; cf. MHG. lînsât, Du. lijnzaad.
The form lint-seed, which is strictly to be regarded as a distinct word, f. LINT, is in Scotland used of seed intended to be sown, while the ordinary form is current in other applications.]
The seed of flax, well known as the source of linseed-oil, and as a medicament. † Occas. the flax-plant. Oil of linseed(s = linseed-oil.
c. 1000. Sax. Leechd., I. 140. Genim þas ylcan wyrte seoð … mid linsæde.
a. 1100. Gerefa, in Anglia (1886), IX. 262. Mederan settan, linsed sawan.
13[?]. S. E. Leg. (MS. Bodl. 779), in Herrig’s Archiv, LXXXII. 311/217. Of linsed & of eyrin & of oþer þing men conne al day oyle out bring.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XVII. xcvii. (1495), 664. Lyne sede nourissheth but lytyll: and is hard to defye.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., XI. 15. Now lynseed, yf the liketh, may be sowe.
1532–3. Act 24 Hen. VIII., c. 4. [They shall] till and and sowe … one roode … with line sede, otherwise called flaxe sede.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, I. xlix. 71. Lynseede mengled with hony … appeaseth the cough.
1626. A. Speed, Adam out of E., xv. (1659), 114. The drosse or that which is left after the pressing out of Lyntseeds.
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 418. The catarrhe … it from repletion, it’s helped by line-seed, with honey.
1686. Aglionby, Painting Illustr., I. 27. The Secret of Oyl Painting, consists in using Colours that are Ground with Oyl of Nut, or Linseed.
1712. trans. Pomet’s Hist. Drugs, I. 37. Leaves, like those of Linseed but larger, greener, and more viscous.
1729. (title) Short Rules and Observations for Sowing of Lint-seed and Hemp-seed.
1782. J. Mill, Diary, in Shetland Minister 18th Cent. (1897), 112. A decoction of 2 oz. lint seed, 2 do. of Liquorish-stick bruised and boiled [etc.].
1807. Med. Jrnl., XVII. 554. The … barley water, and infusion of linseed were ordered to be continued.
1823. J. Badcock, Dom. Amusem., 30. Having dipped the fore-finger and thumb partially in oil of linseeds.
1847. Mary Howitt, Ballads, 66. And some they brought the brown lint-seed, And flung it down from the Low.
1872. Oliver, Elem. Bot., II. 148. The seeds of the Flax plant, called Linseed, are very largely imported.
b. attrib. and Comb., as linseed-shaped adj.; linseed cake, linseed pressed into cakes in the process of extracting the oil, and used as food for cattle; linseed-earth (see quot.); linseed-meal, linseed ground in a mill; linseed-oil, the oil obtained by pressure from linseed; linseed poultice, a poultice made of linseed or linseed-meal; linseed-tea, an infusion of linseed, used as a demulcent.
1813. Sir H. Davy, Agric. Chem. (1814), 365. Cattle at first refuse *Linseed cake.
1883. Gresley, Gloss. Coal-mining, *Linseed Earth, blackish grey clay suitable for making into firebricks.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 68/1. With *lintseede meale make a little paest.
1839. Penny Cycl., XIII. 384/1. Cataplasms of linseed-meal.
1548. Privy-Council Acts (1890), II. 174. *Lyncede oyle, xx galons.
1726. Leoni, trans. Alberti’s Archit., II. 15/2. Colours mixed up with lintseed oyl.
1879. G. Gladstone, in Cassell’s Techn. Educ., IV. 192/1. In oil-gilding the size used is made of a mixture of boiled linseed oil and ochre.
1833. Cycl. Pract. Med., II. 813/2. A common bread and water or *lintseed poultice.
1870. T. Holmes, Syst. Surg. (ed. 2), I. 703. The knots [of farcy] are small and *linseed-shaped.
1741. Baker, in Phil. Trans., XLI. 659. When I went to bed, drank some *Linseed-tea.
Hence Linseeded ppl. a., mixed with linseed.
1864. Spectator, 27 Feb., 228/2. The Bill for allowing linseeded malt to escape duty passed its second reading.
