vicuna

or vi·cu·ña

[ vahy-koo-nuh, -kyoo-, vi-, vi-koo-nyuh ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a wild South American ruminant, Vicugna vicugna, of the Andes, related to the guanaco but smaller, and yielding a soft, delicate wool: an endangered species, now increasing in numbers.
a fabric of this wool or of some substitute, usually twilled and finished with a soft nap.
a garment, especially an overcoat, of vicuna.

vicuña

/ vɪˈkjuːnə; vɪˈkuːnjə /

a tawny-coloured cud-chewing Andean artiodactyl mammal, Vicugna vicugna, similar to the llama: family Camelidae
the fine light cloth made from the wool obtained from this animal

Origin of vicuna¹

1585–95; < Spanish vicuña < Quechua wik’uña

Origin of vicuna¹

C17: from Spanish vicuña, from Quechuan wikúña

The neigh of the vicuña, like that of the other animals of its class, resembles a short, sharp whistle.

The flesh of the vicuña is more tender and better flavored than that of the llama.

In the present day the “ricos,” or rich proprietors of Peru, pride themselves in possessing ponchos of vicuña wool.

So peculiar is it, that in Peru the ‘Colour de vicuña’ (vicuña colour) has become a specific name.

A soft wool cloth of the cheviot order, with teasled face, made from the wool of the vicuña, a South American animal.

April 18, 2024petrichor

[pet-ri-kawr]

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