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hairball

[ hair-bawl ]

noun

  1. a ball of hair accumulated in the stomach or intestines of a cat or other animal as a result of the animal's licking its coat.


hairball

/ ˈhɛəˌbɔːl /

noun

  1. a compact mass of hair that forms in the stomach of cats, calves, etc, as a result of licking and swallowing the fur, and causes vomiting, coughing, bloat, weight loss, and depression
“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


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Word History and Origins

Origin of hairball1

First recorded in 1705–15; hair + ball 1

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