资料来源 : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)

Wool \Wool\ (w[oo^]l), n. [OE. wolle, wulle, AS. wull; akin to
   D. wol, OHG. wolla, G. wolle, Icel. & Sw. ull, Dan. uld,
   Goth, wulla, Lith. vilna, Russ. volna, L. vellus, Skr.
   [=u]r[.n][=a] wool, v[.r] to cover. [root]146, 287. Cf.
   {Flannel}, {Velvet}.]
   1. The soft and curled, or crisped, species of hair which
      grows on sheep and some other animals, and which in
      fineness sometimes approaches to fur; -- chiefly applied
      to the fleecy coat of the sheep, which constitutes a most
      essential material of clothing in all cold and temperate
      climates.

   Note: Wool consists essentially of keratin.

   2. Short, thick hair, especially when crisped or curled.

            Wool of bat and tongue of dog.        --Shak.

   3. (Bot.) A sort of pubescence, or a clothing of dense,
      curling hairs on the surface of certain plants.

   {Dead pulled wool}, wool pulled from a carcass.

   {Mineral wool}. See under {Mineral}.

   {Philosopher's wool}. (Chem.) See {Zinc oxide}, under {Zinc}.
      

   {Pulled wool}, wool pulled from a pelt, or undressed hide.

   {Slag wool}. Same as {Mineral wool}, under {Mineral}.

   {Wool ball}, a ball or mass of wool.

   {Wool burler}, one who removes little burs, knots, or
      extraneous matter, from wool, or the surface of woolen
      cloth.

   {Wool comber}.
      (a) One whose occupation is to comb wool.
      (b) A machine for combing wool.

   {Wool grass} (Bot.), a kind of bulrush ({Scirpus Eriophorum})
      with numerous clustered woolly spikes.

   {Wool scribbler}. See {Woolen scribbler}, under {Woolen}, a.
      

   {Wool sorter's disease} (Med.), a disease, resembling
      malignant pustule, occurring among those who handle the
      wool of goats and sheep.

   {Wool staple}, a city or town where wool used to be brought
      to the king's staple for sale. [Eng.]

   {Wool stapler}.
      (a) One who deals in wool.
      (b) One who sorts wool according to its staple, or its
          adaptation to different manufacturing purposes.

   {Wool winder}, a person employed to wind, or make up, wool
      into bundles to be packed for sale.