horsehair

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   hair taken from a horse's mane or tail, used in brushes, bows, upholstery, and other products

   The violin bow was strung with carefully selected horsehair.

2. 2
   noun

   a stiff fabric traditionally woven partly or wholly from horsehair

   The tailor reinforced the coat with a layer of horsehair canvas.

A compound of horse and hair, attested since Middle English. The word came to denote both the animal fiber itself and cloth or padding manufactured from it.

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