Emily Dickinson Lexicon

MUS'LIN, n. [s as z.; Fr. mousseline; It. mussolina, mussolo; Sp. moselina or musulina. This, if a compound word, is formed of Fr. mousse, moss, or its root, on account of its soft nap, and lin, flax. The opinion of Lunier that it is named from Moussoul, Mesopotamia, is probably unfounded.]

A sort of fine cotton cloth, which bears a downy knot on its surface. Encyc.