vellus hair

American

[vel-uhs hair] / ˈvɛl əs ˌhɛər /

noun

the fine, light, short hairs that cover most of a person’s body.

Etymology

Origin of vellus hair

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

From the Italian word velluto, signifying velvet, which comes from vellus, hair or fleece.

From A Catechism of Familiar Things; Their History, and the Events Which Led to Their Discovery. With a Short Explanation of Some of the Principal Natural Phenomena. For the Use of Schools and Families. Enlarged and Revised Edition. by Anonymous

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023