lanugo

noun

la·​nu·​go lə-ˈnü-(ˌ)gō  -ˈnyü- 

: a dense cottony or downy growth of hair

specifically : the soft woolly hair that covers the fetus of some mammals

Examples of lanugo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Here's where the box gets a little, erm, weird: A larger groove for the umbilical cord and a smaller section for lanugo, the fine hair that covers a newborn's body after birth, are front and center. —Sarah Schreiber, Good Housekeeping, 20 Dec. 2016

Gray seals are born with a covering of white hair, called lanugo. —Aimee Levitt, Chicago Reader, 9 Jan. 2018

Commonly, doctors and parents see this soft hair on newborn babies, but lanugo usually sheds after a short time. —Dr. Manny Alvarez, Fox News, 20 June 2017

For people with werewolf syndrome, the lanugo does not shed and continues growing on the baby’s body. —Dr. Manny Alvarez, Fox News, 20 June 2017

Word History

Etymology

Latin, down, from lana wool — more at wool

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

lanugo

noun

la·​nu·​go lə-ˈnü-gō 

-ˈnyü-

: a growth of hair resembling cotton or down

especially : the soft hair that covers the fetus of some mammals including humans

Medical Definition

lanugo

noun

la·​nu·​go lə-ˈn(y)ü-(ˌ)gō 

: a dense cottony or downy growth of hair

specifically : the soft downy hair that covers the fetus of some mammals