Definitions for: Wool


[n] outer coat of especially sheep and yaks
[n] a fabric made from the hair of sheep
[n] fiber sheared from animals (such as sheep) and twisted into yarn for weaving



Webster (1913) Definition: Wool (w[oo^]l), n. [OE. wolle, wulle, AS. wull; akin to
D. wol, OHG. wolla, G. wolle, Icel. & Sw. ull, Dan. uld,
Goth, wulla, Lith. vilna, Russ. volna, L. vellus, Skr.
[=u]r[.n][=a] wool, v[.r] to cover. [root]146, 287. Cf.
Flannel, Velvet.]
1. The soft and curled, or crisped, species of hair which
grows on sheep and some other animals, and which in
fineness sometimes approaches to fur; -- chiefly applied
to the fleecy coat of the sheep, which constitutes a most
essential material of clothing in all cold and temperate
climates.

Note: Wool consists essentially of keratin.

2. Short, thick hair, especially when crisped or curled.

Wool of bat and tongue of dog. --Shak.

3. (Bot.) A sort of pubescence, or a clothing of dense,
curling hairs on the surface of certain plants.

Dead pulled wool, wool pulled from a carcass.

Mineral wool. See under Mineral.

Philosopher's wool. (Chem.) See Zinc oxide, under Zinc.


Pulled wool, wool pulled from a pelt, or undressed hide.

Slag wool. Same as Mineral wool, under Mineral.

Wool ball, a ball or mass of wool.

Wool burler, one who removes little burs, knots, or
extraneous matter, from wool, or the surface of woolen
cloth.

Wool comber.
(a) One whose occupation is to comb wool.
(b) A machine for combing wool.

Wool grass (Bot.), a kind of bulrush (Scirpus Eriophorum)
with numerous clustered woolly spikes.

Wool scribbler. See Woolen scribbler, under Woolen, a.


Wool sorter's disease (Med.), a disease, resembling
malignant pustule, occurring among those who handle the
wool of goats and sheep.

Wool staple, a city or town where wool used to be brought
to the king's staple for sale. [Eng.]

Wool stapler.
(a) One who deals in wool.
(b) One who sorts wool according to its staple, or its
adaptation to different manufacturing purposes.

Wool winder, a person employed to wind, or make up, wool
into bundles to be packed for sale.

Synonyms: fleece, woolen, woollen

See Also: alpaca, animal fiber, animal fibre, cashmere, cloth, coat, fabric, fleece, material, pelage, raw wool, Shetland wool, shoddy, textile, tweed, vicuna, virgin wool

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