'mohair' originates from Arabic, specifically the word 'mukhayyar', where 'mukhayyar' meant 'chosen'.

'mohair' passed into European languages (Middle French forms such as 'mohair' or 'mouaire') and eventually became the modern English word 'mohair'.

Initially it referred to a type of fabric (cloth) associated with high quality ('chosen'); over time it came to refer specifically to the hair of the Angora goat and the fibre/fabric produced from it.