qiviut

[ kee-vee-uht, -oot ]

noun

1. the soft, dense, light-brown woolly undercoat of the musk ox, used in making fabrics.

Word History and Origins

Origin of qiviut¹

Borrowed into English from Inuit around 1955–60

Example Sentences

They have warm, soft hair, called "qiviut," which is shed in the spring and knitted into pricey garments, and a habit of huddling together to protect their young from predators.

From Reuters

For added insulation, musk oxen grow a second fur layer each winter, an undercoat called qiviut that is said to be many times warmer than wool and softer than cashmere — and how obliging of the animals to shed that qiviut in spring for use in scarves.

From New York Times