alpaca
/alˈpakə
/noun (plural same or alpacas)
1A long-haired domesticated South American mammal related to the llama, valued for its wool.
- Lama pacos, family Camelidae, probably descended from the wild guanaco.
- The Aymara use a great many materials in their weaving, including cotton, as well as wool from sheep, alpacas, and llamas.
- Camelids such as llamas and alpacas are not native to South America but arrived there from the north, as did some deer and horses.
1.1 [mass noun] The wool of the alpaca: a mixture of wool, alpaca, and silk...
- The group is made up of smaller clubs who love working with natural fibres (ie wool, silk, alpaca and mohair), and they come together each year to display their crafts.
- Whatever it becomes will have to be handwashed, and quickly, as I've learned that angora shouldn't ever soak in water (nor should alpaca, for that matter).
- ‘There are 22 natural shades of alpaca - lots of chocolates, creams and greys,’ she explains.
1.2 [mass noun] Fabric made from alpaca wool: [as modifier]: an alpaca jersey...
- One morning late in August, the local police chief and seven gun-toting officers arrived alongside the owner of a cloth factory who claimed to be searching for seven rolls of alpaca fabric stolen from him in a heist.
- People make use of blankets and heavy wool and alpaca garments to keep warm.
- She says they talked about producing long and short versions of her cross over V-neck sweater and cardigans in alpaca and linen.
Origin
Late 18th century: from Spanish, from Aymara allpaca.