underfur

American  

[uhn-der-fur] / ˈʌn dərˌfɜr /

noun

1. the fine, soft, thick, hairy coat under the longer and coarser outer hair in certain animals, as seals, otters, and beavers.

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underfur British  

/ ˈʌndəˌfɜː /

noun

1. Also called: undercoat.  the layer of dense soft fur occurring beneath the outer coarser fur in certain mammals, such as the otter and seal

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Etymology

Origin of underfur

First recorded in 1875–80; under- + fur

Example Sentences

“The underfur is five times as dense as those guard hairs.”

From Washington Post • Oct. 16, 2022

“That underfur traps a layer of air, and that air gets warmed by the body,” she explains.

From Washington Post • Oct. 16, 2022

But beneath those, there’s a much thicker layer of underfur.

From Washington Post • Oct. 16, 2022

Silver moved in a halo of light, for the sun sparkled on the guard hairs that grew out over the dense underfur and she seemed to glow.

From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George

Color: Darker throughout, especially on dorsal surface due to more black of the underfur; underparts deeper buff.

From The Pocket Gophers (Genus Thomomys) of Utah, Vol. 1 No. 1 Kansas University Publications. by Durrant, Stephen D.