Plural of alpaca; domesticated South American animals related to llamas, known for their soft woolly fleece and use in fiber production.
From Quechua 'allpaca' or 'alpaca,' a native word from the Andes where these animals have been herded for thousands of years; entered English via Spanish in the colonial period.
Alpacas can produce up to 10 pounds of fiber annually, and their wool is warmer and softer than sheep's wool—which is why Incan royalty once reserved alpaca garments for themselves!
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