General
manchester
What does manchester mean?
Household linen such as bed sheets, pillowcases and towels; also a shop department.
"The manchester's on sale at the department store."
Origin
After Manchester, England, historically a centre of the cotton textile trade.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'manchester' mean in Australia?
'Manchester' refers to household linen — bed sheets, pillowcases, towels — and is also the name of the shop department that sells them.
Why is linen called 'manchester'?
It's named after Manchester, England, which was historically a major centre of the cotton textile trade.
Is 'manchester' used outside Australia?
In this sense it's mainly Australian and New Zealand usage; elsewhere people just say 'linens' or 'bedding'.
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