linoleum

A durable and inexpensive type of flooring that was invented in the nineteenth century and became quite popular in the U.S. in the 1950s and onward. Linoleum floor covering is made of a combination of solidified linseed oil (the "lin" in "linoleum"), wood dust, and pigment. This substance is then thickly layered onto a flexible backing such as canvas or burlap. Because of its durable nature and availability, linoleum can now be found in homes, public buildings, printshops and other workshops, as well as breakdance studios.