vicuña

noun

vi·​cu·​ña vi-ˈkün-yə 

vī-;

vī-ˈkü-nə 

və-,

-ˈkyü-

variants or vicuna

1

: a long-necked mammal (Vicugna vicugna synonym Lama vicugna) of the Andes from Peru to Argentina that is related to but somewhat smaller than the guanaco, has a light brown woolly coat that is paler below, is considered to the be ancestor of the alpaca, and has been historically hunted for its wool and meat

2

a

: the wool from the vicuña's fine lustrous undercoat

b

: a fabric made of vicuña wool

also : a sheep's wool imitation of this

Illustration of vicuña

• vicuña 1

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Large herds of camel-type animals called vicunas and guanacos, as well as foxes, pumas, and funky types of birds still thrive at 14,000 to 15,000 feet above sea level—but only this wee mouse can scale the whole volcano and live to tell the tale. —Sara Kiley Watson, Popular Science, 31 Mar. 2020

They are not committed to a two-season cycle, private planes and yachts, sable and vicuna. —Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Spanish vicuña, from Quechua wik'uña

First Known Use

1604, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

vicuña

noun

vi·​cu·​ña

variants or vicuna

vi-ˈkün-yə  vī- 

vī-ˈk(y)ü-nə,

və-

1

: a wild cud-chewing animal of the Andes that is related to the llama and alpaca

2

: the wool of the vicuña