unhairv.
1.
a. transitive. To deprive (the head, etc.) of hair.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > relative position > condition of being external > covering > uncovering > uncover or remove covering from [verb (transitive)] > strip or make bare > strip of hair
pillc1350
unhair1382
depilate1575
bald1602
dishair1631
disthatch1654
glabrify1657
dehair1902
1382 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) Ezek. xxix. 18 Eche heed maad ballid, and eche shuldre is vnheerid.
1598 J. Florio Worlde of Wordes Disparuccare, to pull off ones haire or perawig, to vnhaire.
a1616 W. Shakespeare Antony & Cleopatra (1623) ii. v. 64 Ile vnhaire thy head,..Thou shalt be whipt with Wyer.
1849 J. A. Carlyle tr. Dante Inferno 393 Even if thou unhair me, I will not tell thee who I am.
b. Tanning. To remove the hair from (a skin) by special processes.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with skins > work with skins [verb (transitive)] > clean hide > remove hair
pull1550
hair1802
grain1841
unhair1845
slate1885
fine-hair1891
1845 G. Dodd Brit. Manuf. 5th Ser. 182 The hide is then spread out on the beam, and ‘unhaired’, that is, scraped with a knife till the hair is removed.
1880 Times 27 Sept. 12/6 The cost of unhairing, fleshing, and scudding all kinds of skins.
2. intransitive. To lose the hair; to become free of hair.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > skin or hide > skin with hair attached or fur > [verb (intransitive)] > become free of hair
unhair1843
1843 in C. Morfit Art of Tanning, Currying, & Leather-dressing (1853) 177 So that they [sc. the hides] may unhair without tainting.
1883 R. Haldane Workshop Receipts 2nd Ser. 370/1 The hide is said to unhair in 24 hours.
Derivatives
unˈhaired adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > occupation and work > materials > raw material > skin or hide > [adjective] > with hair removed
unhaired1852
pulled1897
1852 C. Morfit Art of Tanning, Currying, & Leather-dressing (1853) 20 The softened and unhaired skins.
1881 L. H. Morgan Contrib. N. Amer. Ethnol. 127 Screens of willow matting or unhaired skins.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online September 2021).
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