1. A fabric woven of the hair of camels or goats.
2. A loose-fitting sleeveless garment made of this fabric, traditionally worn by Arabs.

[Arabic 'abā'.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.