limbo, noun

/ˈlɪmbəʊ/
Origin:
IsiZuluShow more Adaptation of isiZulu ulembu web, gossamer material, gauze, muslin.
obs. except in historical contexts
A coarse, brightly-coloured calico.
1886 W.M. Kerr Far Interior 50For some small strips of cotton cloth — limbo it is called by the traders — we bought some potatoes.
1891 Pall Mall Gaz. (U.K.) 9 Nov. 6This present is accompanied by a quantity of limbo (a coarse quality of calico).
c1894 Wills & Collingridge Downfall of Lobengula 187 (caption)The native in the foreground is wearing the distinguishing mark — yellow ‘limbo’ round his head, as worn by our ‘friendlies’.
1895 R.H.S. Churchill Men, Mines & Animals 153A small group of Makalaka..brought pumpkins, milk, mealies, and beans, for which they took in exchange pieces of coarse blue calico (‘limbo’).
1899 B. Mitford John Ames 14A dark blue fabric, commonly called by the whites ‘limbo’, being a corruption of the native name ‘ulembu’, which signifieth ‘web’.
1914 S.P. Hyatt Old Transport Rd 60The table-cloth, a piece of white limbo, trade calico, remained on from meal to meal, forming a favourite promenade for the flies.
1968 L.G. Green Full Many Glorious Morning 132Fairbridge said that even Dr. Jameson had to be content with coarse cotton material known in pioneer slang as ‘limbo’.
1974 P. Gibbs Hist. of BSAP II. 174He had already tried ritual offerings to the Rain God of limbo and beer but these had proved unavailing.
A coarse, brightly-coloured calico.
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18861974

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lighty, nounn.line, verb intransitivev.
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