vicuna

or vi·cu·ña

[ vahy-koo-nuh, -kyoo-, vi-, vi-koo-nyuh ]

noun

1. a wild South American ruminant, Vicugna vicugna, of the Andes, related to the guanaco but smaller, and yielding a soft, delicate wool: an endangered species, now increasing in numbers.
2. a fabric of this wool or of some substitute, usually twilled and finished with a soft nap.
3. a garment, especially an overcoat, of vicuna.

vicuña

/ vɪˈkjuːnə; vɪˈkuːnjə /

noun

1. a tawny-coloured cud-chewing Andean artiodactyl mammal, Vicugna vicugna, similar to the llama: family Camelidae
2. the fine light cloth made from the wool obtained from this animal

Word History and Origins

Origin of vicuna¹

1585–95; < Spanish vicuña < Quechua wik’uña

Word History and Origins

Origin of vicuna¹

C17: from Spanish vicuña, from Quechuan wikúña

Example Sentences

A $9,000 designer sweater made out of the ultrarare fur of a South American animal called a vicuña is not exactly a typical area of focus for a member of the U.S.

From New York Times

“While Loro Piana’s prices have increased, the price per kilo for fibers paid to the Lucanas community has fallen by one-third in just over a decade; and the villages’ revenue from the vicuña has fallen 80 percent,” Mr. Garcia wrote.

From New York Times

Had Newsom signed the measure, California could have become the first state to mandate redistricting commissions for local jurisdictions over certain sizes, said Dan Vicuna, national director of redistricting and representation for Common Cause.

From Washington Times

Crude oil spilled into the lake smears fishing boats, clogs outboard motors and stains nets, said Vicuña.

From Seattle Times

Mr. Mohaded’s sofas resemble angular boulders, though with softened edges and covered in materials that copy the neutral colors of soil and local wildlife; Catamarca is one of the world’s leading suppliers of vicuña, the llama-like mammals whose fibers are used to make luxury fabric.

From New York Times