different between hairy vs fleecy

English

Etymology

From Middle English hery, heeri, hary, equivalent to hair +? -y. Compare Saterland Frisian hierich (“hairy”), West Frisian hierrich (“hairy”), Dutch harig (“hairy”), German Low German harig (“hairy”), German haarig (“hairy”), Swedish hårig (“hairy”), Icelandic hárugur (“hairy”). Compare also Old English h?riht (“hairy”) and ?eh?re (“hairy”).

The sense "terrifying, scary" possibly results from a blend of hair-raising and scary.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?h???i/
• Rhymes: -???i

Adjective

hairy (comparative hairier, superlative hairiest)

1. Of a person, having a lot of hair on the body.

   a hairy man

2. Of an animal, having a lot of fur.

   hairy mammoth

3. Of a body part other than the head, having hair growing from it.

   She is a great admirer of hairy chests.

4. (informal) Difficult, complex, intricate, or intimidating.

   It’s a hairy problem, and will probably take several weeks to sort out.

5. (informal) Causing anxiety or fright; terrifying, scary.

Synonyms

• (person): furry, hairful, hirsute
• (animal): furry
• (body part): furry, hirsute

Antonyms

• bald
• hairless

Derived terms

• hairily
• hairiness

Translations

See also

• dasypygal

Anagrams

• Yahir

English

Etymology

fleece +? -y

Adjective

fleecy (comparative fleecier, superlative fleeciest)

1. Resembling or covered in fleece.
   • 1847, Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights, chapter XX:

     {...} turning to take a last glance into the valley, whence a light mist mounted and formed a fleecy cloud on the skirts of the blue.

   • So this was my future home, I thought! […] Backed by towering hills, the but faintly discernible purple line of the French boundary off to the southwest, a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams.