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Mohair entered the English language in the 16th century, spelled variously as "mocayare," "mockaire," "mokayre," and "moochary." It was borrowed from Italian mocaiarro, a word which itself was borrowed from Arabic mukhayyar. The adjective mukhayyar meant "select" or "choice." How this Arabic adjective came to be the English noun "mohair" is a bit of a mystery. It is possible that "mukhayyar" was used as a colloquial noun in the sense of "wool of prime quality" (that is, "choice wool"). In English, the shift from "mocayare" and similar spellings to "mohair" was likely influenced by the more familiar English word hair.
Examples of mohair in a Sentence
Elizabeth Logan, Glamour, 30 Sep. 2025
In the exhibit, Pradier-Jeauneau introduced his namesake furniture line with a hefty, sculptural sofa, upholstered in Élitis mohair, anchoring the collection.
—Rachel Gallaher, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2025
Half of all mohair is certified to Textile Exchange’s Responsible Mohair Standard.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 18 Sep. 2025
For example, picture curling up on this outdoor wicker sofa with a good book, wrapped in a plush faux mohair throw blanket as the air turns crisp.
—Toni Sutton, People.com, 25 Aug. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Mohair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mohair. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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mohair
noun
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