Cashmere
/ˈkæʃ.mɪər/noun
A soft, fine wool made from the undercoat of cashmere goats, or the fabric made from it.
Did you know?The word entered European languages through trade routes tied to the Kashmir region, so every “cashmere” label quietly carries the geography of an ancient mountain frontier.
Etymological Timeline
Sanskrit / early Indic
Indic
Kashmira
“The region of Kashmir”
Persian
Persian
Kašmīr
“Kashmir, the northern Indian region”
16th–17th Century
French
cachemire
“A fine wool or shawl from Kashmir”
18th Century
English
cashmere
“A luxurious woolen fabric imported from Kashmir”
Modern English
English
cashmere
“Soft wool or fabric made from the undercoat of cashmere goats”