horsehair

[hawrs-hair]

noun

a hair or the hair of a horse, especially from the mane or tail.
a sturdy, glossy fabric woven of this hair.

adjective

of or relating to horsehair: a horsehair mattress.

Origin of horsehair

First recorded in 1275–1325, horsehair is from the Middle English word hors here. See horse, hair

Related formshorse·haired, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for horsehair

Contemporary Examples of horsehair

And the other is what is called a horsehair worm that overtakes the bodies of insects.
Vampires without Glitter or Girl Problems: Inside Guillermo del Toro’s ‘The Strain’
Andrew Romano
July 14, 2014
Atop the mattress and box spring, Hughes reveals two “toppers,” stuffed with cashmere, horsehair, and lambswool.
Savoir Beds’ Royal State Bed: Just Perfect, If You Have $175,000
Daniel Gross
June 27, 2013

Historical Examples of horsehair

Is usually worked with horsehair on the edges to give firmness to the cordonnet.
Textiles
William H. Dooley
Mattresses made of wool, or of wool and horsehair, are much better.
The Physical Life of Woman:
Dr. George H Napheys
Cunningham had made his bed of horsehair; let him twist and writhe upon it.
The Pagan Madonna
Harold MacGrath
They all went for the easy-chair, you see—but it's all horsehair.
Germinie Lacerteux
Edmond and Jules de Goncourt
The cordonnet of Alençon is the only one which has horsehair for its foundation.
Chats on Old Lace and Needlework
Emily Leigh Lowes

British Dictionary definitions for horsehair

horsehair

noun

1. hair taken chiefly from the tail or mane of a horse, used in upholstery and for fabric, etc
2. (as modifier)a horsehair mattress

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for horsehair

late 14c., from horse (n.) + hair.