What does lana mean?
Lana is an uncommon noun denoting a fine woollen fabric resembling cashmere. It is generally associated with textiles made from the exceptionally soft fibres of llamas or alpacas and may also refer to the wool itself. The word occurs mainly in specialist and commercial contexts, including descriptions of clothing, fabric imports, and luxury textiles. Because it is relatively uncommon in ordinary contemporary English, its appearance in a text often signals a connection with fine natural fibres, traditional weaving, or high-quality woollen material. In this sense, lana is distinct from a named animal fibre: it denotes the material or fabric rather than an individual breed of animal. Its vocabulary value also lies in its close relationship to the Latin and Spanish terminology for wool, linking it to a wider family of words concerning wool-bearing animals and wool-like surfaces.
nounA fine woollen fabric resembling cashmere, traditionally associated with wool obtained from llamas or alpacas.
- A fine woollen fabric resembling cashmere, traditionally made from llama or alpaca wool.
"The coat was made from soft, lightweight lana and worn comfortably through the winter."
"The merchant sold bolts of lana at the annual textile fair."
"Her lightweight jacket was lined with warm, soft lana."
The plural is used when referring to different kinds or quantities of the fabric.
"The workshop produced several lanas in warm shades of brown and grey."
Named simply for the Spanish word for wool, lana is associated with the exceptionally fine fibres of llamas and alpacas.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does lana come from?
The word comes from Spanish lana, meaning “wool,” which derives from Latin lāna. It was adopted into English in the context of fine woollen textiles, particularly those made from South American camelid fibres.
How lana is actually used
A relatively uncommon textile term, encountered chiefly in descriptions of fine woollen goods and fabrics.