Forms: α. 7 becunia, 7– vicuna, 8–9 vicunna, 9 va-, vecuna, vicugna, vicunnia, 9– vicuña. β. 7 vicugne, 9 vicune. [a. Sp. vicuña (Pg. vicunha), the Quichuan name of the animal. See also VIGOGNE, VIGONE, and VIGONIA.]
1. A South American animal (Aucheniavicunna), closely related to the llama and alpaca, inhabiting the higher portions of the northern Andes and yielding a fine silky wool used for textile fabrics.
α. 1622. R. Hawkins, Voy. S. Sea, 47. It may be surmised, that it is as that of the Becunia, and other Beasts, which breed the Beazer stone.
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 28. The beast is about the bignesse and likeness of a Stagg. Their hair … is said also to help the gout: sc. Of that called Vicunas.
1704. Collect. Voy. (Churchill), III. 11/2. The Wild Goats are numerous; they are call’d Vicunna’s.
1748. Anson’s Voy., I. vi. 68. There are in all parts of this country a good number of Vicunnas or Peruvian sheep.
1771. trans. Pernety’s Voy. Malouine Isl. (1773), 289. Several of our people went a shooting … and saw some carcases of vicunas.
1805. Luccock, Nat. Wool, 14. We allude particularly to … the camel, and the dromedary, in the East, and the vicuna in South America.
1847. Prescott, Peru (1850), II. 100. His dress … was composed of the wool of the vicuña wrought into mantles, so fine that it had the appearance of silk.
1875. Encycl. Brit., I. 598/1. The vicugna is a much rarer animal than the alpaca.
1894. Lydekker, Roy. Nat. Hist., II. 413. During the wet season of the year the vicunias seek the highest ridges of the Cordillera.
β. 1604. E. G[rimstone], D’Acosta’s Hist. Indies, IV. xl. 316. Amongst the most remarkable things at the Indies of Peru, be the Vicugnes, and sheep of the countrie, as they call them.
1613. Purchas, Pilgrimage (1614), 732. The Vicugne somewhat resembleth a Goat, but is greater.
c. 1806. Acc. Viceroyalty Buenos Ayres, 21, note. There is also a wild species of the pacos, called vicunes.
2. ellipt. Vicuña cloth; also, a garment made of this.
1851. Catal. Gt. Exhib., 491/1. Ponchos:—Plain and brocade, striped; aravenas, Vicunas.
1853. Household Words, 24 Sept., 76/1. The verbiage by which coats are transformed into … alpacas, vicunas, ponchos,… and siphonias.
1883. Daily News, 22 Sept., 3/3. A dress of cigar-brown vicugna.
1887. Standard, 15 Sept., 2/1. A thick diagonal vicuna has been introduced as a jacket cloth.
3. attrib. and Comb., as vicuña-fur, -hunter, -skin; vicuña-cloth, cloth made of vicuña-wool (hence ellipt. vicuña-costume); vicuña-wool, (a) wool or fur of the vicuña; (b) a mixture of fine wool and cotton.
1851. Catal. Gt. Exhib., 490/2. Union cloth…. *Vicuna cloth.
1882. Caulfeild & Saward, Dict. Needlework, 515/1. Vicuna cloth … is employed as a dress material, and is very soft in texture.
1889. Daily News, 22 Oct., 6/1. Vicuna cloth is much in favour for dresses just now.
1884. Cassell’s Fam. Mag., Oct., 697/2. The standing figure wears a pale brown *vicuna costume.
1857. Catal. Gt. Exhib., 487/1. *Vicuna fur, with woollen back.
1880. C. R. Markham, Peruv. Bark, 125. This led us down into a valley, where I parted with my young *vicuña-hunter, who had been a very pleasant companion.
1840. Penny Cycl., XVIII. 228/2. The finest [ponchos] are made of *vicuña skins.
1804. Gentl. Mag., Nov., 1059. On board … were 20 sacks of *Vicuna [mispr. Vienna] wool.
1818. Amer. St. Papers, For. Relat. (1834), IV. 327. The imports … consisted of … 771 arrobas of vacuna wool.
1862. Catal. Internat. Exhib., Brit., II. No. 4073. Tweeds … made from Vicugna wool.
1880. C. R. Markham, Peruv. Bark, 135. The exquisite fabrics they weave from vicuña-wool.
