kevlar
UK[ˈkɛvlɑː]US[ˈkɛvlɑːr]
n
A very strong, heat-resistant synthetic fiber used in products such as bulletproof vests and tires.
Etymology
Kevlar is a modern invented trademark, not derived from classical roots. It was registered in 1973 by the DuPont company for their synthetic para-aramid fiber. The name is linguistically arbitrary but was likely chosen for its distinctive, technical sound, possibly influenced by the name of the related fiber 'nylon' and the chemist Stephanie Kwolek's work on the project. As a trademark, its primary function is brand identification, and its meaning is entirely defined by the material's revolutionary properties of high tensile strength and thermal stability.
Analysis
This is a proprietary trademark (coined word). It does not follow standard morpheme segmentation from classical languages. The name was created by the DuPont company.
Examples
The police officer's vest is reinforced with layers of kevlar.
Kevlar is often used in the construction of lightweight canoes and other sporting equipment.
The new gloves are lined with kevlar for cut resistance.