Cashmere

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈkæʃ.mɪə/

Definitions

1. a soft luxurious fabric made from the fine hair of Kashmir goats, prized for clothing and textiles
2. a delicate woolen material derived from goat fleece found in the Kashmir region, valued for its warmth and smoothness
3. an expensive textile produced from the downy undercoat of certain goats, historically associated with Kashmir and known for its exceptional softness
4. a soft, luxurious fiber obtained from the fine hair of Kashmir goats, prized for making high-quality clothing and textiles
5. a premium woolly material derived from the undercoat of Himalayan goats, highly valued for its warmth and smooth feel in garments

Etymology: Cashmere is a place name first. The fine wool comes from the underlying goats of the Kashmir region, in the Himalayan foothills, and the word took its name from that valley. The spelling "cashmere" is the older English form of the place name, which is now usually written "Kashmir," so the fabric was named for where it was made long before the place itself was familiar to most English speakers. The word is an appellativization: a proper noun that has become a common noun. Once "Cashmere" stood for the wool of that region, it could be used for any soft, fine wool or cloth, even when it came from elsewhere. Its use as a common noun for the fabric is what now defines it.

Synonyms: pashmina, wool, fabric, textile