vicuña

noun

vi·​cu·​ña vi-ˈkün-yə 

vī-;

vī-ˈkü-nə 

və-,

-ˈkyü-

variants or vicuna

1

: a long-necked mammal (Lama vicugna synonym Vicugna 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

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