The notion of fur refers to the quality and characteristics of an animal 's wool or hair . The term can also refer to pelamen : the hair that covers the body.
It is also necessary to know that this word has its etymological origin in Latin. And it has been formed with the union of the noun “pilus”, which means “hair”, and the suffix “-aje”, which is used to indicate “set”.
Among the words that can function as synonyms for fur, we can highlight some such as skin, hair, hair or pelambrera, among others.
The coat allows us to recognize the different races or classes of a species . Since it usually covers almost the entire epidermis, it can be seen with the naked eye.
The analysis of the coat is usually carried out by its tone and its layers . However, there are animals that change their hair throughout the year and the color can also be modified due to hygiene or diet, for example. In this way, a specimen does not always have the same coat.
There are horses , to mention one case, that have a long and somewhat dull coat in the winter, but in summer they have a shorter coat and a brighter and more intense color. Age is another factor that affects appearance.
Continuing with the horses, depending on the coat we can speak of sorrels , chestnuts , bays , grays or cattails , among others. The names depend on the properties of the hair.
It is important to keep in mind that many animals shed their fur depending on the season . The increase in fur density when it is cold allows them to resist low temperatures. Color variations, meanwhile, help camouflage : the fur becomes whitish during the snowy season, and earthy during the rest of the year. This way the creatures have greater protection from their predators.
It must be established that many people do not hesitate to put a lot of care into caring for their animals' fur so that it looks resplendent. Precisely for this reason, citizens who have cats as pets proceed to brush them daily with special brushes and introduce foods that are rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids into their diet, because it is considered that they improve the quality and shine of the coat.
Likewise, another trick is to wash them periodically with a mixture prepared with water and honey or with water and egg.
However, it should not be overlooked that, colloquially, the term fur is also used with another meaning. Specifically, it is used as something derogatory. Thus, it is used to refer to someone who has a bad appearance, a suspicious appearance or even who is considered to be of bad character.
An example of the use of that term with this meaning could be the following: “The individual who has arrived in town has a somewhat strange coat that has aroused everyone's distrust.”