hairball

[ hair-bawl ]
/ ˈhɛərˌbɔl /

noun

a ball of hair accumulated in the stomach or intestines of a cat or other animal as a result of the animal's licking its coat.

Origin of hairball

First recorded in 1705–15; hair + ball1

Words nearby hairball

hair trigger, hair's-breadth, hair-raiser, hair-raising, hair-trigger, hairball, hairbrained, hairbreadth, hairbrush, hairbrush cactus, haircloth

British Dictionary definitions for hairball

hairball
/ (ˈhɛəˌbɔːl) /

noun

a compact mass of hair that forms in the stomach of cats, calves, etc, as a result of licking and swallowing the fur, and causes vomiting, coughing, bloat, weight loss, and depression

Medical definitions for hairball

hairball
[ hâr′bôl′ ]

n.

A small mass of hair located in the stomach or intestine of an animal, such as a cat, resulting from an accumulation of small amounts of hair that are swallowed each time the animal licks its coat. pilobezoar trichobezoar