1. The wool of lambs; soft fine wool used for hosiery and other clothing; clothing-material made of this wool.
1552. Act 5 & 6 Edw. VI., c. 6 § 1. Some by myngelinge Fell Wooll and Lambes Wool … withe Fleese Wooll.
1631. Star Chamb. Cases (Camden), 13. They changed the markes of the sheepe, and deteyned the lambes wooll, and when it was demanded it was denyed as if it were upon the sheepes backes.
1830. Miss Mitford, Village, Ser. IV. (1863), 163. The poor little creatures, shivering tho’ wrapt in lamb’s-wool and swan’s-down.
1854. Emerson, Lett. & Soc. Aims, Resources, Wks. (Bohn), III. 199. The invalid sits shivering in lambs-wool and furs.
fig. 1869. Trollope, He knew, etc. iv. (1878), 19. Wrapping himself up for life in the scanty lambswool of a fellowship.
b. attrib.
1836. E. Howard, R. Reefer, xxiii. White lamb’s-wool stockings.
1837. J. F. Palmer, Devonsh. Gloss., Lambs-wool-sky, a collection of white orbicular masses of cloud (cirrostratus).
1886. Fortn. Rev., Feb., 179. The sponges are sorted … into glove, reef, lamb’s wool, grass, &c.
2. A drink consisting of hot ale mixed with the pulp of roasted apples, and sugared and spiced.
1592. G. Harvey, Pierce’s Super., 33. Drinking a Cupp of Lammeswool.
1595. Peele, Old Wives T., Wks. (Rtldg.), 446/1. Lay a crab in the fire to roast for lamb’s-wool.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. v. III. i. (1651), 399. I finde those that commend use of Apples in Splenatick and this kinde of Melancholy (Lambswooll some call it).
1666. Pepys, Diary, 9 Nov. We to cards till two in the morning, and drinking lamb’s-wool.
1725. Sloane, Jamaica, II. 147. They roast a ripe plantain and mix it with a pint and half of water, and it is like Lamb’s Wool.
1766. Goldsm., Vic. W., xi. The lamb’s wool, even in the opinion of my wife, who was a connoisseur, was excellent.
1839. Mrs. Palmer, Devon. Dial., iv. 59. ‘There is two special stubberd trees, vor making squab pies and lambs wool.’
