alpaca

noun

Etymology: Borrowed from Spanish alpaca, from Aymara allpaqa.

1. A sheep-like domesticated animal of the Andes, Vicugna pacos, in the camel family, closely related to the llama, guanaco, and vicuña.

   “Away from the village, there was an enclosure containing several large animals of a kind I had not seen before—shaggy, long-necked, small-headed creatures who stood or lay at ease around their pen. Alpacas?”

2. Wool from the alpaca, with strong very long fibres and coloring from black to brown to white.

   “A lady in frayed alpaca, carrying a house-flannel, came to hearken.”

3. A garment made of such wool.

   “The dress was at the bottom, — it was an alpaca, of a pretty shade in blue, bedecked with lace and ribbons, as is the fashion of the hour, and lined with sea-green silk.”