Wool (English spelling)

Japanese: ウール（英語表記）wool

Wool. A fiber used to make yarn and woolen fabrics. It lacks a medulla in the center of the fiber and is chemically composed of a protein called keratin. It is mainly obtained from sheep and is the main animal fiber. It is divided into fine, medium, long, and hybrid wools based on its appearance. Most fine wool is obtained from Merino sheep, but it is used for underwear and textiles because it has many wavy bends in the fiber and is prone to felting, where the fibers become entangled. Wool is characterized by its surface covered with scales, its curled shape, its high heat retention, and its excellent properties as a clothing fiber. It is produced in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, South America, the former Soviet Union, China, etc., with Australia and New Zealand accounting for more than 40% of the production and more than 70% of the export volume. Wool is harvested once a year from April to September in the Northern Hemisphere and from September to February of the following year in the Southern Hemisphere. Depending on the place of origin and the rate of growth, the wool may be sheared twice a year. The percentage of scoured wool obtained by removing impurities from the greasy wool (raw wool) that remains after shearing is called the yield. In wool trading, scoured wool is generally the subject of the wool trade. In terms of quality, it is considered good for the wool to be colorless, shiny, and with few impurities, with fine, long, uniform, soft fibers with normal crimp and a moisture content of 15 to 18%. In Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and other countries, it is sold by auction, while in Argentina, it is traded face-to-face. In the case of greasy wool, it is distributed by being packed and packaged at the farm of origin, imported through trading companies, and then sold to wool spinning manufacturers.

Wool

An ancient village body in Tamil Nadu, southern India. The members of the village were landowners who made decisions about the village, such as repairing roads and reservoirs, regulating the use of irrigation water, and maintaining temples. Villages donated by Brahmins formed similar bodies called sabhas, whose members were also Brahmins.

Source: Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia About Encyclopaedia Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Information

Japanese:

緬毛。毛糸や毛織物の原料となる繊維。繊維の中心部に髄質を欠き，化学的にはケラチンといわれる蛋白質から成っている。主としてめん羊から採取され，動物性繊維の中心である。外観的な性質から細毛，中毛，長毛，雑種毛などに分れる。細毛の大部分はメリノ種の羊から得られるが，繊維に波状の屈曲が多く，繊維がからみ合ったフェルト化現象が起りやすいので肌着や織物に用いる。羊毛の特色は表面は鱗 (スケール) におおわれており，形状が巻縮していて，保温性が高く，衣料用繊維としてきわめてすぐれている点にある。生産地はオーストラリア，ニュージーランド，アメリカ合衆国，南アメリカ，旧ソ連，中国などで，オーストラリアとニュージーランドでその 40%以上を占め，輸出量にいたっては 70%以上を保持している。羊毛は北半球では4～9月，南半球では9月から翌年2月の間に年1回刈取る。産地や成長の進度によって年2回刈取る場合もある。剪毛したままの脂付羊毛 (原毛) から不純物を除いて得られる洗上羊毛の割合を歩どまりという。また一般に羊毛取引では洗上羊毛がその対象とされる。品質は無色で光沢の強いもの，不純物の少いものがよく，繊維は細く，長く均一で柔らかく正常な巻縮をもち，水分の含有量が 15～18%のものがよいとされる。取引はオーストラリア，ニュージーランド，南アフリカ共和国などではせり売り，アルゼンチンなどでは相対取引が行われる。流通の経路は脂付羊毛の場合，原産地牧場で荷造り包装されたものが商社を通じて輸入され，毛紡メーカーの手に入る。