oilskin

A loosely woven plain weave cotton cloth, although silk is often used, impregnated with linseed oil which oxidizes to a hard, smooth, translucent finish making it completely waterproof.  The cloth, which becomes stiff, retains its distinctive smell of linseed oil and its golden yellow colour.  Before the invention of flexible plastic fabrics, oilskin was the only available fabric used in the manufacture seaman\'s waterproof clothing, slickers and sou\'westers.  A fine silk fabric impregnated with boiled linseed oil was at one time used for surgical purposes.