Definition

1. Noun:
   • Hair from a horse: The long, coarse hair that grows on the mane (the hair along the top of the neck) or the tail of a horse.
   • A fabric or material: A stiff, wiry fabric traditionally made from the fibers of horsehair, often used for upholstery, interlinings, or in historical clothing.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Hair):
  • The old violin bow was strung with genuine horsehair.
  • They collected the horsehair after grooming the animals.
• Noun (Fabric):
  • The antique chair was upholstered in a durable black horsehair.
  • Horsehair was commonly used in 19th-century suit jackets to provide structure.

Advanced Usage

• "Horsehair worm": A common name for nematomorphs, long, thin parasitic worms whose appearance is reminiscent of a strand of horsehair.
  • We found a horsehair worm in the puddle.
• "Horsehair plaster": A historical building material containing horsehair as a binding fiber to reduce cracking in lime or gypsum plaster.
  • The walls of the century-old house were made with horsehair plaster.

Variants and Related Words

• Horsehair-like (adj): Resembling the texture or appearance of horsehair.
  • The plant had horsehair-like roots.
• Horsehair wig: A type of judicial or ceremonial wig traditionally made from horsehair.
  • The barrister's horsehair wig is a symbol of the court.

Synonyms

• Animal fiber: A broader category including hair or wool from animals.
• Bristle: A short, stiff hair, often from an animal, which can be similar in texture.

Related Phrases

(Note: "Horsehair" itself is not commonly used in phrasal verbs. It is primarily a noun.)

Related Idioms

(Note: There are no common idioms that centrally feature the word "horsehair.")

Noun

1. a fabric made from fibers taken from the mane or tail of horses; used for upholstery
2. hair taken from the mane or tail of a horse