noun
small animal with soft fur
Archaic term for a small fur-bearing animal, likely used in historical or literary contexts. Not used in modern Japanese.
古い文献に「毛の柔物」という語が見られる。
The term 毛の柔物 appears in old documents.
The exact derivation is uncertain. The spelling 毛の柔物 literally suggests 'soft-furred thing', but the historical origin of the term is unclear.