merino
UK[məˈriːnəʊ]US[məˈriːnoʊ]
n
A breed of sheep with long, fine wool.
n
The soft wool from a merino sheep, or a high-quality fabric or garment made from it.
Etymology
The word 'merino' entered English in the late 18th century from Spanish, where it originally referred to a judicial inspector of pastures and, later, to the sheep themselves. The Spanish term is believed to derive from the Medieval Latin 'majorinus', meaning "overseer" or "head of a household," which itself comes from Latin 'major' (greater). The semantic shift from an overseer to the sheep breed likely occurred because the sheep were under the supervision of such officials or were considered the "chief" or finest stock. Thus, the term traveled from a Latin administrative title through Spanish pastoral use to its modern English meaning denoting a specific, prized breed of sheep and its luxurious wool.
Analysis
The word 'merino' is a direct borrowing from Spanish and does not contain separable morphemes within its modern English spelling.
Examples
The merino grazed on the highland slopes, its thick fleece protecting it from the cold.
This sweater is made from pure merino, making it both warm and breathable.
Australia is one of the world's leading producers of fine merino wool.