merino Hear it!

merino Definition

me·rino (mə rē′nō)

noun pl. -·nos

  1. any of a breed of hardy, white-faced sheep with long, fine wool, orig. from Spain
  2. the wool
  3. a fine, soft yarn made from this wool, often mixed with cotton
  4. a soft, thin cloth made of this yarn

Etymology: Sp, prob. after (Beni) Merin, name of a Berber tribe of nomads and shepherds

adjective

designating or of this sheep, wool, yarn, or cloth

merino Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • Italian: Made from fine quality Italian merino and alpaca wool, with viscose to allow machine washing.

Modifies a noun

  • wool: Merino wool with its short, ultra fine staple was ideal for the market.
  • sheep: To compound matters, merino sheep in Australia have been bred to hold half their body weight in wool.
  • top: Our merino tops will work perfectly for all the patterns.
  • yarn: A beautifully fine 4ply merino yarn was used for this delicate handknitted baby hat and mitts.
  • fiber: Merino wool fibers are naturally long and fine, creating a particularly soft, smooth wool.
  • lambswool: Touch and feel are important to her so expect the softest merino lambswool throws and cushions in delicious pastel colors.