a. Chiefly scientific. [ad. L. lānuginōs-us: see prec. and -OUS.] Covered with down or fine soft hair; having a surface resembling down; of the nature of down; downy.
1575. Laneham, Lett. (1871), 56. Lanuginoous az a lad of eyghteen yee[r]z.
1608. Topsell, Serpents (1658), 670. Hairy or lanuginous Caterpillers.
1671. Phil. Trans., VI. 2167. That Lanuginous Stone, called Amianthus. Ibid. (1684), XIV. 823. A lanuginous matter exactly resembling that of pappous Plants.
1706. Baynard, in Sir J. Floyer, Hot & Cold Bath., II. 236. The Mouth and Tongue … by reason of its downy and lanuginous Membrane.
1762. Nat. Hist., in Ann. Reg., 76/1. Clothed with a lanuginous skin.
1796. Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), II. 28. Found in Lanuginous Crystals on the walls of an old cellar.
1877. Coues & Allen, N. Amer. Rod., 46. Lanuginous tufts of hair.
Hence Lanuginousness. (Bailey, vol. II., 1727.)
