This section is from the "A Complete Dictionary of Dry Goods" book, by George S. Cole. Also available from Amazon: A complete dictionary of dry goods and history of silk, cotton, linen, wool and other fibrous substances,: Including a full explanation of the modern processes ... together with various useful tables.
Jean. [A term generally regarded as having been derived from the town of Jaen, Spain] A twilled and calendered cotton cloth, usually 27 inches in width, used principally for dress lining, and in the manufacture of corsets. Satin jean is a thicker variety, the surface of which is finished with a high gloss, employed in the manner of ladies' shoes, over-gaiters and similar purposes. Jeanette is a coarse quality of jean. Jeans, for men's garments, has the same origin as the above, though commonly used in the plural. Much of the "homespun" manufactured in this country, particularly throughout the South in the early days, was jeans. At present it varies exceedingly as to quality, ranging from all cotton up through many gradations to all wool. It is always round twilled, and is usually woven with a cotton warp and a coarse worsted weft. The best grade of cotton-warp jeans is termed "doeskin jeans."
 
Continue to: