guard hairs
Protective animal fur
Guard hairs are the long, coarse outer hairs in a mammal's coat that protect the softer underfur beneath.
They shed water, provide camouflage, and give the coat its visible color and texture: The fox's guard hairs glistened with frost.
In fur garments, guard hairs determine the look while underfur provides warmth.
Mammal's fur collectively
- undercoatPreparatory paint layer
- furAnimal body hair
- peltFur-bearing animal skin
- coatOuter garment or layer
follicle · shaft · cuticle · cortex · medulla · root · tip · strand
Making impervious to moisture
- insulationThermal transfer prevention
- protectionGuarding against harm
- water-repellentResisting water penetration
- thermalPertaining to warmth
barrier · shielding · weatherproofing · camouflage · coloration · signaling · display · streamlining
Losing outer covering
- moltingPeriodic shedding of covering
- brushingSweeping motion with bristles
- combingArranging strands with teeth
- mattingWoven protective surface
felting · blowing · seasonal · thinning · regrowth · maintenance · detangling · conditioning
Fur-bearing animal skin
- tanningCuring hides or bronzing
- trappingCatching with concealed devices
- textileMaterial from woven fibers
- feltCompressed fiber textile
brush-making · insulation · garment · luxury · harvesting
pelage
Mammal's fur collectively
coat · follicle · shaft · cuticle · cortex · medulla · root · tip · strand · fiber
coarse
Rough in texture
rough · glossy · sleek · smooth · lustrous · shiny · thick · straight · long · outer
waterproofing
Making impervious to moisture
- insulationThermal transfer prevention
- protectionGuarding against harm
- water-repellentResisting water penetration
thermal · barrier · shielding · weatherproofing · camouflage · coloration · signaling · display · streamlining · buoyancy
shedding
Losing outer covering
- moltingPeriodic shedding of covering
- brushingSweeping motion with bristles
- combingArranging strands with teeth
matting · felting · blowing · seasonal · thinning · regrowth · maintenance · detangling · conditioning
pelt
Fur-bearing animal skin
- tanningCuring hides or bronzing
- trappingCatching with concealed devices
- textileMaterial from woven fibers
felt · brush-making · insulation · garment · luxury · harvesting
mammal
Warm-blooded, milk-producing animal
- beaverDam-constructing aquatic rodent
- otterSemi-aquatic weasel relative
- sealAuthentication stamp or mark
mink · fox · wolf · bear · rabbit · chinchilla · muskrat · sable · ermine · badger
- animal anatomyskull, teeth, ears, eyes, nose
- cat anatomywhiskers, claws, tail, paws, ears
- dog coatfur pattern, coat length, coat pattern, double coat, single coat
- mammal anatomyskeleton, skull, muscles, teeth, ears
- animal coatscoat, fur, undercoat, hide, fleece
- body coveringsskin, hide, pelt, fur, epidermis