wool
UK: wʊl | US: wʊl
n. the soft, thick hair that grows on sheep and some other animals
n. yarn or fabric made from this hair
n. a material resembling sheep's wool (e.g., mineral wool)
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The word "wool" traces back to Old English wull, which is derived from Proto-Germanic wullō. This term is rooted in the Proto-Indo-European h₂wĺ̥h₁neh₂, meaning "wool." The word has remained remarkably stable in form and meaning across Germanic languages (e.g., German Wolle, Dutch wol), reflecting its ancient connection to sheep farming and textile production. Unlike many loanwords or compound terms, "wool" is a monomorphemic word with no separable prefixes or suffixes, preserving its simplicity from its earliest origins.
The sheep's wool was sheared and spun into yarn.
She knitted a warm sweater from pure wool.
This blanket is made of merino wool, which is very soft.
The ancient traders exchanged spices for wool and textiles.
Mineral wool is often used as insulation in buildings.