guard hair

noun

The top layer of fur on an animal, consisting of longer, generally coarser, nearly straight shafts of hair that protrude through the down hair layer.

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Meanings

nounguard hair (countable and uncountable, plural guard hairs)

plural guard hairs

  1. uncountableThe top layer of fur on an animal, consisting of longer, generally coarser, nearly straight shafts of hair that protrude through the down hair layer.
  2. countableAn individual hair of this layer.

Origin

In reference to its function in protecting the animal from water, sunlight, etc.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

guard hair. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/guard%20hair

MLA

“guard hair.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/guard%20hair. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “guard hair,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/guard%20hair.

Source: guard hair on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.