mohair

Where does the word "mohair" come from? It comes from Arabic mukhayyar, passing through Italian and French before entering English (1560s).

Mohair’s story begins in Arabic: mukhayyar meant “select, choice cloth.” Literally chosen or select, describing fine goat-hair cloth. By 1500s, the word had taken hold in Italian as mocaiarro. From Arabic 'mukhayyar', choice cloth; made from the hair of the Angora goat of Ankara. From there it passed into French as mocayart by 1500s. Carried the fabric name into French trade vocabulary. It reached English by 1560s as mohair. Settled as the word for fine cloth woven from Angora goat hair. Today, mohair means a fabric or yarn made from the hair of the Angora goat.

1. Stage 1 · Arabic · medieval mukhayyar "select, choice cloth", literally chosen or select, describing fine goat-hair cloth.
2. Stage 2 · Italian · 1500s mocaiarro "fine goat-hair cloth", from Arabic 'mukhayyar', choice cloth; made from the hair of the Angora goat of Ankara.
3. Stage 3 · French · 1500s mocayart "fine goat-hair cloth", carried the fabric name into French trade vocabulary.
4. Stage 4 · English · 1560s mohair "fabric woven from Angora goat hair", settled as the word for fine cloth woven from Angora goat hair.