mohair

[moh-hair] /ˈmoʊˌhɛər/
noun
1.
the coat or fleece of an Angora goat.
2.
a fabric made of yarn from this fleece, in a plain weave for draperies and in a pile weave for upholstery.
3.
a garment made of this fabric.
Origin
1560-70; variant (by folk etymology) of earlier mocayare < Italian moccaiaro < Arabic mukhayyar literally, chosen, choice, past participle of khayyara to choose
Examples from the web for mohair
  • Inside is hot, still, and stuffy with that peculiar dust that seems to reside in old maroon mohair living room suites.
  • The amethyst-colored lobby is filled with velvet mohair chairs, leather half-moon shaped sofas and a marble-topped coffee table.
  • Featured pieces include cashmere sweaters, ermine suède loafers, and a navy mohair blazer.
  • If you're allergic to cats, don't even think about wearing mohair, the fuzzy yarn made from the silky hair of angora goats.
  • Please sign and return the form to this office as soon as possible so your wool and mohair is covered.
  • The instrument has now been calibrated for measuring greasy mohair and has also been used to measure alpaca fiber.
British Dictionary definitions for mohair

mohair

/ˈməʊˌhɛə/
noun
1.
Also called angora. the long soft silky hair that makes up the outer coat of the Angora goat
2.
  1. a fabric made from the yarn of this hair and cotton or wool
  2. (as modifier): a mohair suit
Word Origin
C16: variant (influenced by hair) of earlier mocayare, ultimately from Arabic mukhayyar, literally: choice, from khayyara to choose
Word Origin and History for mohair
n.

1610s, earlier mocayre, 1560s, "fine hair of the Angora goat," also "a fabric made from this," from Middle French mocayart (16c.), Italian mocaiarro, both from Arabic mukhayyar "cloth of goat hair," literally "selected, choice," from khayyara "he chose." Spelling influenced in English by association with hair. Moire "watered silk" (1650s) probably represents English mohair borrowed into French and back into English.

Encyclopedia Article for mohair

animal-hair fibre obtained from the Angora goat (see ) and a significant so-called specialty hair fibre. The word mohair is derived from the Arabic mukhayyar ("goat's hair fabric"), which became mockaire in medieval times. Mohair is one of the oldest textile fibres, produced exclusively in Turkey for thousands of years, achieving importance in European textile manufacture during the 19th century. In the mid-1800s herds of common goats in southern Africa and the southwestern United States were upgraded by the importation of Angora sires.

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