scientific. [L. f. lāna wool.] Fine soft hair or down, or a surface resembling this; spec. that covering the human fœtus.
1677. Phil. Trans., XII. 904. The lanugo seen upon a Peach, Quince, or the like.
1766. Misc. Ess., in Ann. Reg., 192/1. A Monchinel-apple falling into the sea and lying in the water will contract a lanugo of salt-petre.
1871. Darwin, Desc. Man, I. i. 25. The fine wool-like hair, or so-called lanugo, with which the human fœtus during the sixth month is thickly covered, offers a more curious case.
1876. Duhring, Dis. Skin, 33. Very fine, soft hair, called lanugo, found upon the face, trunk, and other regions.
attrib. and Comb. 1891. W. A. Jamieson, Dis. Skin, i. (ed. 3), 4. The small lanugo hairs seem as if dependents of the sebaceous glands.
1897. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., III. 686. A tuft of delicate lanugo-like hairs.
