Short for linoleum; a smooth, durable material made from linseed oil and other substances, used to cover floors.
From 'linoleum,' which itself comes from Latin 'linum' (flax/linen) + 'oleum' (oil). Linoleum was invented in 1863 and the shortened form 'lino' became common in British English.
Linoleum was a Victorian invention that made durable, washable floors affordable for working people—before that, only wealthy homes had stone or polished wood, so lino democratized beautiful floors!
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