A fine white fabric, particularly white linen, typically used in garments of high status or in cultic settings. In most contexts, denotes the material itself (linen distinguished by whiteness and quality), rather than a mere color term. May occasionally refer to the attribute of whiteness as manifested in such textiles.

Etymology From the root חור (ח-ו-ר), which in verbal forms means 'to be white, pale.' The noun form חוּר refers to material that is conspicuously white, with a probable extension from the base idea of whiteness to linen because of its characteristic color.

Reflexes  · not yet grouped by proto-form

LanguageWordMeaningSegmentationRoot
Chichewa chena white -chen(a)-
Kikuyu chenia white; to whiten -chen(a)-
Luganda kyeru white -yeru/-chen(a)-
Shona chena white; bright -chen-
Tonga (Zambia) chena white -chen(a)-
Tumbuka chena white -chen(a)-