Etymology

A computer geek I ain't.  I'm fairly hopeless with technology.  But words - well, them's my buddies!  I confess, as a kid I used to read not only books that a lot of kids read, but also the encyclopedia.  Not just for homework or long term projects, but for fun.  It gets worse.  I also read (yup, present tense cause I still do it) the dictionary.  I love knowing how words evolved.  So yesterday's discussion about angora rabbits vs angora goats got me wondering.  As Anne so correctly points out, the term angora is generally thought to have come from the city Ankara, Turkey, which is where both animals may have originated.  But why is fiber from the angora goat called mohair?  A quick check in a dictionary, which generally lists the etymology of words, offers this: "[Alteration (influenced by hair), of obsolete Italian mocaiaro from Arabic muayyar, choice, select, mohair, passive participle of ayyara, to prefer derived stem of ra, to choose. See yr in Semitic Roots.]  So there you have it - mohair is the anglicized version of an Arabic word for choice or select. 

Of course, I think that's wrong - hair of the rabbit is really the choice fiber.  Hey, it's my blog.  I get to say that here without dispute.  :)  Feel free to offer your own preferences but here at Woolybuns, there is no question about the favored fiber.

Comments

[Anne]

Cool! I love stuff like that, but I'd tend to agree about the preferred fiber being angora bunny and not goat, but go figure.

[Karen]

I used to read the encyclopedia as a kid too. I had forgotten that until I read that you did it too. Uh oh! Another thing we have in common! :)

[martha]

I've only lurked until now, but had to come out of the woodwork -- etymology does that to me! I still read the dictionary; I love the subtle shadings of meanings.

Though I am neither a spinner nor a rabbiteer, I thoroughly enjoy your blog.

[midnightbunny]

I definitely agree with you concerning the etymology of words. It is absolutely fascinating. Of course you know I also agree with you regarding rabbit fur. It is the best! Kudos to you with all that you do. Your weblog is a favorite of mine ... for many reasons. :)