Vicunas

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A species of South American camelid known for its soft wool and grazing habits, commonly found in high mountain environments
2. A domesticated wild animal from the Andes, closely related to llamas, valued for its fine fiber used in textiles
3. A native animal to the high-altitude regions of Peru and Bolivia, recognized for its slender build and sociable nature in herds

Etymology: "Vicunas" is the plural of "vicuna," the wild South American camelid whose fine fiber is prized for textiles. The animal's name passed into English from Spanish "vicuña," which in turn was borrowed from Quechua, the language of the Inca Empire, where the word is "wik'uña." The plural form simply follows the ordinary English pattern of adding an "s," so it refers to more than one of these animals. The singular "vicuna" carries the whole history: a name taken from Andean speakers and carried into European languages through Spanish colonial contact with the Andes.