wool English · revision 15043

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 725|origins=ine-pro *wele-}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /wʊl/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|wolle]], [[inh|ang|wull]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024) from [[gem-pro|*wulnō]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) cognate with [[ofs|wolle]], [[nl|wol]], [[goh|wolla]] (modern [[de|Wolle]]) and [[non|ull]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[ine-pro|*wele-|t=wool]], the source also of [[la|lāna|t=wool]], [[m|la|vellus|t=fleece]], [[grc|ληνός|tr=lēnós|t=wool]] and [[lt|vilna]].^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(MWU 2024)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The fine soft hair forming the coat of sheep: about 725 in the OED, before 800 in Barnhart.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Wool has been the most important clothing material in cold and temperate lands.^(Etymonline) Comparisons like ''white as wool'' are from about 825,^(OED 1989) and the whole fleece is wool from about 1400.^(OED 1989) The soft under-hair of other animals is from 1605.^(OED 1989) ''To pull the wool over someone's eyes'' is first recorded of an American lawyer in the mid-19th century, perhaps alluding to a curly wig,^(Cresswell 2021) and ''wild and woolly'' is from the late 19th century.^(Cresswell 2021) Woollen is probably from before 1300.^(Barnhart 1988) In Kent to wool a horse was to twist a chain round a stubborn horse to make it obey.^(Wright 1898)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – wool.^(OED 1989)

+ * probably before 1300 – woollen.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * c. 1400 – a fleece.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1605 – the under-hair of other animals.^(OED 1989)

+ * mid-19th century – to pull the wool over someone's eyes.^(Cresswell 2021)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The soft, often curly hair forming the coat of sheep and some other animals, such as goats and alpacas.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Yarn spun from this hair, used for knitting and weaving.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Cloth or a garment made of this yarn.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Any of certain fibrous materials: ''steel wool''.^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(informal)'' Short, thick, curly hair.^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[woollike]]

+ * [[dyed-in-the-wool]]

+ * [[nonwool]]

+ * [[underwool]]

+ * [[wood-wool]]

+ * [[wooled]]

+ * [[woolfell]]

+ * [[woolgathering]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[woollen]]

+ * [[woolly]]

+ * [[lanolin]]

+ * [[flannel]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}