mohair

/ˈmoʊhɛɹ/

Etymology

Earlier mocayre, from Middle French mocayart and Italian mocaiardo, mocaiarro, both from Arabic مُخَيَّر (muḵayyar, “choice”), past participle of خَيَّرَ (ḵayyara, “to choose”). Form influenced by hair through folk etymology. Doublet of moire; compare mockado.

Why this word is great

MOHAIR — [Noun] A yarn or fabric spun from the long, silky hair of the Angora goat, prized for its durability and luminous sheen. From earlier mocayre, via Middle French mocayart and Italian mocaiardo, mocaiarro, from Arabic مُخَيَّر (muḵayyar, "choice"), past participle of خَيَّرَ (ḵayyara, "to choose"). Spelling influenced by folk etymology with 'hair.' Unlike "wool" (bound to sheep, earthy and matte) or "cashmere" (whisper-soft, cloaked in luxury), mohair is the aristocrat of goat fibers—resilient, radiant, slightly stiff to the touch. It is the gleam of a winter scarf catching lamplight, the bristling nap of an heirloom armchair, the way a child’s knitted sweater holds its shape through years of wash and wear. A thing chosen, and choosing, to endure.

noun

  1. Yarn or fabric made from the hair of the angora goat, often as mixed with cotton or other materials.
  2. The long, fine hair of the Angora goat.
  3. An Angora goat.“mohair goat, mohair kid”