What does lino mean?
Lino is an informal word, especially common in British English, for linoleum, a durable floor covering made from materials including linseed oil, cork dust, and wood flour. It is often used when discussing older homes, kitchens, bathrooms, and other practical spaces, where it conveys both familiarity and the material’s reputation for being inexpensive and easy to clean. The expression can sound nostalgic or slightly dated because fitted lino was especially associated with ordinary domestic interiors in the mid-20th century, although modern varieties remain widely used. In Australian English, lino can also mean linseed oil, the yellowish oil obtained from dried flax seeds. The word is clipped from linoleum, which was originally a trademark but eventually became a generic name for the flooring material.
nounLino is chiefly British informal short for linoleum, a hard, resilient floor covering. In Australian English, it can also mean linseed oil.
- A floor covering made of linoleum.
- Linseed oil, especially in Australian English.
"They chose pale lino for the kitchen floor because it was inexpensive and easy to clean."
"The dogs left muddy paw prints across the newly fitted lino."
"Lino was traditionally used as a base for oil paints."
Usually used as an uncountable noun for the material, though linos can be used countably for separate pieces or areas of flooring.
"They replaced the old linos in the kitchen and bathroom."
Lino began as a brand name, but the word became so widely used that it now names the product itself.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lino come from?
The word is a shortened form of linoleum, a name coined by Frederick Walton in the 1870s for his new floor covering. Linoleum was initially marketed as a trademark before the term became generic. Its name combines the Latin linum, meaning “flax,” with oleum, meaning “oil,” reflecting linseed oil as a principal ingredient.
How lino is actually used
The floor-covering sense is especially common in British, Irish, and Commonwealth English and is informal in tone. In Australian English, the word may instead denote linseed oil.
Easily confused with lino
Lino is a hard floor covering, whereas linen is a fabric woven from flax.
Lino usually means linoleum in British and US usage, while linseed oil is the oil obtained from flax seeds.