horsehair
UK[ˈhɔːsheə]US[ˈhɔːrsher]
n
Hair from the mane or tail of a horse, used especially for stuffing upholstery and in making fabric.
Morpheme Breakdown
horse
hair
horse
animal
hair
filament
Etymology
The compound word 'horsehair' is a straightforward combination of two ancient Germanic nouns. 'Horse' derives from the Proto-Germanic hrussa-, likely from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to run'. 'Hair' comes from the Proto-Germanic khæran, related to the idea of something bristly or stiff. The logic of the compound is purely descriptive, naming a material by its source animal and its physical form. Its modern application is specialized, referring not to any hair from a horse, but specifically to the long, coarse hair from the mane or tail, valued for its durability and springiness in traditional upholstery and textiles.
Analysis
Structure: horse (animal) + hair (filament)
- horse: From Old English hors, of Germanic origin; the animal.
- hair: From Old English hær, of Germanic origin; a single filament growing from the skin.
Examples
The antique sofa was stuffed with traditional horsehair.
She bought a violin bow strung with genuine white horsehair.
The fabric, woven from horsehair, was stiff and durable.