guard hair

American  

noun

1. the long, usually stiff outer hair protecting the underfur in certain animals.

---

guard hair British  

noun

1. any of the coarse hairs that form the outer fur in certain mammals, rising above the underfur

---

Etymology

Origin of guard hair

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

The hinged traps are bigger or smaller, they’re redder or greener, the guard hairs are longer or miniaturized, and so on.

From Washington Post

The coarser outer hair, or “guard hair,” is used to weave ropes, belts, saddle blankets and rugs.

From Washington Times

The pelt of the Woolly rhino was long, consisting of both light, fine strands as well as coarser, darker guard hairs.

From Scientific American

They both have a tawny and brown pelage speckled with light and dark guard hairs.

From Scientific American

More than 200 impression slides and whole mounts of guard hair and underfur were prepared.

From Project Gutenberg