Formerly alpaco. [a. Sp. alpaca or al-paco, f. al Arab. article often prefixed to names + paco, prob. a native Peruvian name.]
1. A Peruvian quadruped, a species of llama, having long fine woolly hair.
[1604. E. G., D’Acosta’s Hist. W. Ind., xli. 319. Pacos, or sheep bearing wooll.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., Pacos … the name of a species of camel … known among many by the name of the Indian sheep, or Peruvian sheep.]
1811. Arcana (of Nat. Hist.) The Acalpa [sic] is another animal of Peru.
1827. Griffith, Cuvier, IV. 57. The Paco or Alpaca was first clearly described by M. Frederick Cuvier in 1821.
1830. Gard. & Menag. Zool. Soc., I. 278. Early travellers in America speak vaguely of the Llama, the Guanaco, the Paco or Alpaco, and the Vicugna.
1848. T. Southey, Colon. Wools, iv. 239. The Alpaca is about 4 feet high.
b. attrib.
1836. Bradford Observer, June (Advt.). L’pool Wool Sales … 400 bags of Alpacca wool, just landed.
2. = alpaca wool.
1792. J. Townsend, Journ. Spain, II. 417, in N. & Q., Ser. IV. VI. 133. A gentleman from Peru gave me samples of wool … one called Alpaca … very fine and excellent for hats.
1877. Birm. Weekly Post, 22 Dec., 1/3. His [Mr. Titus Salt’s] eye fell upon a huge pile of dirty-looking bales of alpaca.
3. The fabric made of alpaca wool. Often attrib.
1838. Monthly Rev. Worsted Tr., July. The Alpaca figure has for the present become a decided trade.
1859. Lady’s Tour M. Rosa, 7. A dress of some light woollen material, such as carmelite or alpaca.
1869. E. Blakey, in Eng. Mech., 13 Aug., 466/1. Alpaca umbrellas are made of alpaca weft and cotton warp.
