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Origin and history of liner

liner(n.1)

"vessel belonging to a shipping line," 1838, from line (n.) on the notion of a succession of ships plying between ports along regular "lines," as distinguished from transient ships using those ports. (Line in this sense is attested by 1786 in reference to stagecoaches.) Earlier it meant "man of war, ship of the line" (1829).

The cosmetic sense is by 1904, originally of actor's makeup where it might be used to draw wrinkles, as well as outline the eyes or lips.

The type of baseball hit (forcible and parallel to the ground) was so called from 1874 (line drive is attested from 1899).

liner(n.2)

"person who fits a lining to," 1610s, agent noun from line (v.1). The meaning "thing serving as a lining" is from 1869. Liner notes in a record album is attested from 1953.

also from 1610s

Entries linking to liner

line(v.1)

"to cover the inner side of" (clothes, garments, etc.), late 14c., from Old English lin "linen cloth" (see linen). Linen was frequently used in the Middle Ages as a second layer of material on the inner side of a garment. Hence, by extension, "to fill the insides of" (1510s). Related: Lined; lining.

eye-liner(n.)

also eyeliner, 1955, in the cosmetic sense, from eye (n.) + liner (n.2).

Metroliner(n.)

U.S. high-speed inter-city train, 1969, from metropolitan + liner.

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