karakul

noun

kar·​a·​kul ˈker-ə-kəl 

ˈka-rə-

1

often capitalized : any of a breed of hardy fat-tailed sheep of central Asian origin with a narrow body and coarse wiry fur

2

: the usually curly glossy black coat of a very young karakul lamb valued as fur compare broadtail sense 2, persian lamb sense 1

Illustration of karakul

• karakul 1

Examples of karakul in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In their place are elderly, ultra-Orthodox Jews wearing black overcoats and fedoras; south and central Asians with traditional karakul hats; and gaggles of merchants shouting in languages from across the world. —Barak Richman, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Jan. 2020

Most fur-bearing animals have never been domesticated, which makes raising a fox for the trim of a parka inherently crueler than aborting a karakul lamb for a wool cap, animal rights activists say. —Glendale News-Press, 29 Aug. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Karakul, village in Uzbekistan

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

karakul

noun

kar·​a·​kul ˈkar-ə-kəl 

1

often capitalized : any of a breed of hardy Asian sheep with coarse fur

2

: the usually curly glossy black coat of a young karakul lamb valued as fur