astrakhan

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the tightly curled black or gray fleece of a young karakul lamb, used as fur

   The coat was trimmed with bands of black astrakhan at the cuffs.

2. 2
   noun

   a wool or wool-blend fabric made to resemble astrakhan fur

   The theater costume used imitation astrakhan around the collar.

Named for Astrakhan, the Russian city and trading center through which the curled lambskins reached European markets. The place-name became a common noun for the fur and then for cloth manufactured to imitate it.

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