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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
Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 20 Jan. 2026
There are ascents on skis with skins, typically made from mohair and nylon, which are attached underneath for traction.
—Tom Kludt, Vanity Fair, 19 Jan. 2026
The Barry style is the quintessential cardigan thanks to its timeless V-neck cut, dainty buttons, and luxe mohair material.
—Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 18 Jan. 2026
The cozy alpaca coats and mohair knits were also standouts.
—Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 17 Jan. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Mohair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mohair. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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mohair
noun
