fur
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(fûr) 
n.
n.
- The thick coat of soft hair covering the skin of a mammal, such as a fox or beaver.
- The hair-covered, dressed pelt of such a mammal, used in the making of garments and as trimming or decoration.
- A garment made of or lined with the dressed pelt of a mammal.
- A coating similar to the pelt of a mammal.
- To cover, line, or trim with fur.
- To provide fur garments for.
- To cover or coat as if with fur.
- To line (a wall or floor) with furring.
[Middle English furre, probably from furren, to line with fur, from Old French forrer, from forre, fuerre, sheath, lining, of Germanic origin.]
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fur, hairy covering of an animal, especially the skins of animals that have thick, soft, close-growing hair next to the skin itself and coarser protective hair above it. The underhair is frequently called the underfur or fur proper; the outer hairs are the guard hairs; the whole, when dried, is the pelt. The term fur is extended to dressed sheep and lamb skins when they are prepared for wearing with the hair retained, and usually to curled pelts such as Persian lamb, karakul, astrakhan, and mouton.
Since prehistoric times humans have used furs for clothing. Traditionally, the prized furs have been sable, marten, and fisher (all of the genus Martes), the related mink and ermine (of the genus Mustela), and the chinchilla, from South America. The coats of the ocelot, the wildcat, the common house cat, the marmot, the nutria, the raccoon, the hare, and the rabbit are less expensive because the animals are numerous and easy to trap. Beaver and seal are prized for their durability, but such furs as squirrel and skunk are valued for their delicacy of texture. Fox furs have also been much esteemed, and the rare wild silver fox and Pribilof blue fox are sought after, although silver fox is now bred on fur farms.
The Fur Trade
The hunting of wild furs is still an important occupation in wilderness areas, notably in N Canada, Alaska, Mongolia, and Siberia. The finer wild furs come from northerly regions, where because of the climate the animals produce sleeker and better pelts. In the more populated and temperate regions of the world, however, only small pockets of territory retain enough wild animal life to be good for fur hunting. Because of this condition furs have always been luxury goods and were associated early with royalty and nobility (e.g., sable and ermine).
The fur trade has gone on since antiquity, but it reached its apogee in the organized exploitation of the wilderness of North America and Asia from the 17th to the early 19th cent. The staple fur of the great fur-trading days in North America was the beaver, though the fur seal was and is the object of highly lucrative fur hunts.
Many furs are also now grown extensively by fur farming, which has developed into a major industry in the United States and Canada in the 20th cent. The preparation and sale of fur remains a very considerable business. The dressing and dyeing and the matching and cutting of furs to make fine coats and other garments occupy the labors of a great many people concentrated in the few great fur markets of the world.
Threat to Fur-bearing Animals
The depletion of fur-bearing animals was strikingly indicated in the fate of the sea otter on the Northwest Coast. The threat of similar extinction of the fur seal later led to the international quarrel called the Bering Sea Fur-Seal Controversy (see under Bering Sea). Because some fur-bearing animals were in danger of extinction, the U.S. government in 1969 enacted the Endangered Species Act, which bans the importation and sale of pelts of such animals as the polar bear, the jaguar, and the tiger (see endangered species). Since the 1960s the clubbing of baby fur seals has become the focus for considerable concern among the various humane societies of Canada and the United States, and since the 1980s the protests of animal-rights groups led to a decrease in popularity of all furs.
Synthetic Fur
After World War II synthetic fur, a deep-pile fabric closely resembling fur, became popular. George W. Borg was among the first to adapt circular knitting machines to make a pile fabric from synthetic fibers. The machines knit a double layer of fabric leaving free ends of yarn that form a pile as deep as 4 in. (10.2 cm). In 1953 an improved form resembling sheared beaver or mouton was introduced. Later types use different synthetics and are woven as well as knit; they also use cotton backing. Other synthetic furs imitate Persian lamb, seal, ermine, chinchilla, and mink. Since the 1960s synthetic furs have become increasingly popular as a result of their relatively low cost and realistic appearance, greater public awareness of endangered species, and the disappearance of certain furs from the market because of restrictive conservation laws.
Bibliography
See A. Samet, Pictorial Encyclopedia of Furs (rev. ed. 1950); P. C. Phillips and J. W. Smurr, The Fur Trade (2 vol., 1961; repr. 1967); E. Coues, The Fur Bearing Animals of North America (1877, repr. 1970); L. R. Hafen, ed., The Mountain Men and the Fur Trade of the Far West (10 vol., 1965-72); S. Geary, Fur Trapping in North America (rev. ed. 1985).
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fur
IN BRIEF: The hairy coat of a mammal especially when fine, soft and thick.
That cat's fur was incredibly soft.
Tutor's tip: The bear rubbed the "fur" (the hairy coating of a mammal) on its back against the bark of a "fir" (an evergreen tree) tree.
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Short, very fine and soft hair. Valuable as pelts for use in cold climate and high fashion garments.
- f. animal — animals bred or trapped in the wild for their pelts. Includes mink, sable, otter, lapin, ermine, marten.
- f. ball — accumulations of fur, swallowed during the natural grooming procedures of cats, can be a cause of vomiting, enteritis and uncommonly intestinal obstruction. Most troublesome in longhaired cats and those with skin disease that prompts more grooming.
- f.-bearing animal — see fur animal (above).
- f. clipping — chewing of fur by captive mink rendering the pelt useless. A vice apparently caused by cage boredom.
- f. mite — see lynxacarus radovsky.
- f. seal alopecia — caused in captive seals by overgrooming, a displacement activity. Alopecia occurs on the head and the posterior body, the easiest places for the seal to scratch.
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categories related to 'fur'
- Neckwear - fur: scarf, stole, or neckpiece of animal fur
- Furs, Leathers, and Pelts - fur: soft, thick mammal hair; skin bearing such hair, stripped and processed
- Anatomy and Physiology of Sex - fur: Vulgar slang. woman’s pubic hair
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"Furs" redirects here. For other uses, see Furs (disambiguation).
For other uses, see Fur (disambiguation).
Fur is a synonym for hair, used more in reference to non-human animals, usually mammals; particularly those with extensive body hair coverage. The term is sometimes used to refer to the body hair of an animal as a complete coat, also known as the "pelage". Fur is also used to refer to animal pelts which have been processed into leather with the hair still attached. The words fur or furry are also used, more casually, to refer to hair-like growths or formations; particularly when the subject being referred to exhibits a dense coat of fine, soft "hairs".
Animal fur, if layered, rather than grown as a single coat, may consist of short ground hair, long guard hair, and, in some cases, medium awn hair. Mammals with reduced amounts of fur are often called "naked", as in The Naked Ape, naked mole rat, and naked dogs.
An animal with commercially valuable fur is known within the fur industry as a furbearer. The use of fur as clothing and/or decoration is considered controversial by some people: most animal rights advocates object to the trapping and killing of wildlife, and to the confinement and killing of animals on fur farms.
Fur has been a big challenge for 3D computer graphics artists due to its geometrical complexity and self-shadowing effects. The first movie which made extensive use of CGI-fur was Pixar's Monsters, Inc. from 2001.
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Nature of fur
Fur usually consists of two main layers:
- Ground hair (known also as undercoat or down hair) — the bottom layer consisting of wool hair which tend to be shorter, flat, curly, and denser than the top layer. Its principal function is thermal insulation and thus thermoregulation.
- Guard hair — the top layer consisting of longer, often coarser, straight shafts of hair that stick out through the underfur. This is usually the visible layer for most mammals and contains most of the pigmentation. It protects the underfur from outside factors, such as rain, and is thus often water-repellent.
A third layer, the awn hair, may also exist. It is intermediate between the two others.
Use in clothing
Main article: Fur clothing
In clothing, fur is leather with the hair retained for its insulating properties. Fur has long served as a source of clothing for hominoids including the Neanderthal. Animal furs used in garments and trim may be dyed bright colors or to mimic exotic animal patterns, or shorn down to imitate the feel of a soft velvet fabric. The term "a fur" is often used to refer to a fur coat, wrap, or shawl.
usual animal sources for fur clothing and fur trimmed accessories include fox, rabbit, mink, beavers, ermine, otters, sable, seals, cats, dogs, coyotes, chinchilla, and possum. The import and sale of seal products was banned in the U.S. in 1972 over conservation concerns about Canadian seals. The import and sale is still banned even though the Marine Animal Response Society estimates the harp seal population is thriving at approximately 8 million.[1] The import, export and sales of domesticated cat and dog fur was also banned in the U.S. under the Dog and Cat Protection Act of 2000.[2]
The manufacturing of fur clothing involves obtaining animal pelts where the hair is left on the animal's processed skin. In contrast, making leather involves removing the hair from the hide or pelt and using only the skin. The use of wool involves shearing the animal's fleece from the living animal, so that the wool can be regrown but sheepskin shearling is made by retaining the fleece to the leather and shearing it.[3] Shearling is used for boots, jackets and coats and is probably the most common type of skin worn.
Fur is also used to make felt. A common felt is made from beaver fur and is used in high-end cowboy hats.[4]
Controversy
Main article: Fur farming
Further information: Fur trade
Most animal rights activists are opposed to the trapping and killing of wildlife, and the confinement and killing of animals on fur farms. According to Humane Society International, over 8 million animals are trapped yearly for fur, while more than 30 million were raised in fur farms.[5]
According to the Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals (a.k.a Fur-Bearer Defenders), each year in Canada, over 700,000 animals are trapped and killed for their fur.[6] In addition to that number, over 2.5 million fur-bearing animals are killed each year on Canadian fur farms.[7]
Based on video footage, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) allege that dog and cat fur farming in China is particularly inhumane.[8].
See also
- Human activities
References
- ^ "Harp Seal", Marine Animal Response Society.
- ^ Rules and Regulations Under the Fur Products Labeling Act.
- ^ Australian Wool Corporation, Australian Wool Classing, Raw Wool Services, 1990.
- ^ Chamber's journal, Published by Orr and Smith, 1952, pg 200, Original from the University of Michigan.
- ^ Humane Society International Fur Trade.
- ^ The Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals
- ^ The Association for the Protection of Fur-Bearing Animals
- ^ China's Shocking Dog and Cat Fur Trade.
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
Translations:
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Fur
Dansk (Danish)
n. - pels, skind, belægning
v. tr. - fore med pelsværk, rense
idioms:
- fur up rejse børster
- make the fur fly få dem i totterne på hinanden
n. - fur-person, fur-sprog
adj. - fur-
Nederlands (Dutch)
bont, vacht, bontjas, pelsdieren, kleding van bont, aanslag, (laten) aanslaan, met bont bezetten/bekleden, schoonmaken van aanslag, houten grond recht maken
Français (French)
n. - poils, pelage, fourrure, manteau de fourrure, (GB) tartre
v. tr. - entartrer, incruster
idioms:
- fur and feather gibier à poil et à plume
- fur up s'incruster, s'entartrer
- make the fur fly ça va chauffer/barder
n. - Fur/For (musulman du sud-ouest Soudanais), le fur/for (langue du sud-ouest Soudanais)
adj. - du Fur/For
Deutsch (German)
n. - Pelz, Fell, Pelzmantel, Belag, Kesselstein
v. - mit Pelz ausstatten, (sich) mit Belag bzw. Kesselstein überziehen
idioms:
- fur and feather Wild und Federwild
- fur up Kesselstein ansetzen
- make the fur fly einen Aufruhr verursachen
n. - Fur (Sprache), Fur (Mitglied des Volkes in Südwestsudan)
adj. - Fur-
Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - γούνα, τρίχωμα ζώου, γουναρικό, καθαλάτωση
v. - φοδράρω, ντουμπλάρω
idioms:
- fur up πιάνω πουρί
- make the fur fly γίνομαι ή κάνω μαλλιά-κουβάρια
Italiano (Italian)
pelliccia, deposito
idioms:
- fur flying rissoso
- fur up incrostarsi
Português (Portuguese)
n. - pele (f) (de animal), crosta (f)
v. - forrar (de pele), incrustar
idioms:
- fur up incrustar
- make the fur fly causar uma grande polêmica
Русский (Russian)
мех, шерсть, пушнина, накипь
idioms:
- fur up покрываться накипью
- make the fur fly поднять бучу
Español (Spanish)
n. - piel, pelaje, abrigo de piel, sedimento, sarro
v. tr. - cubrir, forrar, adornar con pieles
idioms:
- fur and feather piel y plumas
- fur up cubrirse de sarro
- make the fur fly provocar un altercado, iniciar una disputa
n. - musulmán de las regiones montañosas del SW de Sudán
adj. - relativo a estas personas y a su lenguaje
Svenska (Swedish)
n. - päls, skinn, pälsdjur, pannsten
v. - pälsfodra, belägga
中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
软毛, 皮子, 毛皮, 毛皮制品, 毛皮制品的, 软毛的, 毛皮的
毛皮制品, 软毛, 毛皮, 以毛皮制作, 使生垢, 使生苔
idioms:
- fur up 生垢
- make the fur fly 引起骚乱
中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 軟毛, 皮子, 毛皮, 毛皮製品
adj. - 毛皮製品的, 軟毛的, 毛皮的
n. - 毛皮製品, 軟毛, 毛皮
v. tr. - 以毛皮製作, 使生垢, 使生苔
idioms:
- fur up 生垢
- make the fur fly 引起騷亂
한국어 (Korean)
n. - 털
v. tr. - 부드러운 모피를 붙이다
idioms:
- fur up 블록이 형성되다
- make the fur fly 큰 소동을 벌이다
n. - 모피, 모피제품, 솜털 모양의 부착물
adj. - 모피의, 솜털의
日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 毛, 毛皮, 舌苔, 湯あか, 毛皮製品
v. - 毛皮でおおう
idioms:
- fur up 外殻が生じる
- make the fur fly 大騒動を引き起こす, てきぱきやる
العربيه (Arabic)
(الاسم) فراء (فعل) يكسو بالفرو
עברית (Hebrew)
n. - פרווה, דוק-הלשון, משקע, אבנית, שכבה על הלשון, חיות-פרווה, קיצור: פורלונג (כ-081 מטר)
v. tr. - כיסה באבנית, יישר רצפת עץ, תפר פרווה לשולי בגד, הלביש בפרווה
n. - בן לעם מוסלמי באיזורי ההרים והמדבר בדרום-מערב סודן, שפתו של עם זה
adj. - של עם זה או לשונו
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