Refers to the raised fibers or hair-like surface on textiles such as carpets, velvet, or towels.
This carpet has a long pile and is soft.
hair growth; length of hair
Describes how hair grows or its length, often used in contexts like animal fur or human body hair.
hairy legs
Specifically refers to legs that are covered with hair; a straightforward compound of 毛 (hair) and 足 (leg).
He is self-conscious about his hairy legs.
This dog has short hair, so it's easy to groom.
Standard kanji spelling for all senses.
Variant kanji spelling; 脚 emphasizes 'leg' and may be seen in the 'hairy legs' sense, but 毛足 is more common.
Compound of 毛 (ke, 'hair') and 足 (ashi, 'foot; leg'). The meaning 'pile of fabric' is a metaphorical extension from the idea of hair-like fibers.