thin linen polished to look like silk
A specific traditional fabric; not a general term for silk-linen blends. Rare outside historical or textile contexts.
In the Edo period, kinuasa was used for high-quality summer kimono.
Compound of 絹 (kinu, 'silk') and 麻 (asa, 'hemp' or 'linen'), referring to a fabric that combines or imitates these materials. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.