pileous

From Latin pilus +‎ -eous, perhaps by alteration of pilous or pilose.

• IPA^(key): /ˈpɪliəs/
• Rhymes: -ɪliəs
• Homophone: pileus

pileous (comparative more pileous, superlative most pileous)

1. (not comparable) Of, pertaining to, or consisting of hair.
   • 1861, Friedrich Wilhelm Von Scanzoni, H. Dor, A. Socin, transl., A Practical treatise on the diseases of the sexual organs of women, page 563:

     Another frequent affection of the labia majora, is vulvular folliculitis of Hulguier, that is to say the inflammatlon of the numerous pileous and sebaceous glands of this organ.

   • 1949, René Maurice Gattefossé, Technique of Beauty Products, page 166:

     A thyroid lack is usually characterised by skin infiltration, by dryness and desquamation, by depletion of the pileous system, […] .

   • 1995, Rupert D. V. Glasgow, Madness, Masks, and Laughter: An Essay on Comedy, page 36:

     The play is indeed dominated by disguise and linguistic mimicry as Titus, the "carrot-headed" comic hero, tries to overcome prejudice against redheads and climb the social ladder by donning a wig and pretending to be "normal" in matters pileous.

   • 2006, Andrew Miller, Casanova, unnumbered page:

     What pileous sculptures was the young man creating on that lovely head?

2. (comparable) Covered with hair; hairy.
   • 1861, W. Newcomb, Catalogue of Helices Inhabiting the West Coast of America, North of Cape St. Lucas and West of the Rocky Mountains: American Journal of Conchology, volume 1, page 342:

     This rare species might, but for the rugose and pileous epidermis and more depressed form, readily be confounded with the preceding.

   • 2008, John Tehranian, Whitewashed: America's Invisible Middle Eastern Minority, page 17:

     One cannot help but wonder whether the concerns ultimately had root in the presence of a diminutive, pileous, and swarthy Mediterranean atop a military vehicle, instead of our accepted Anglo-Saxon image of leadership and might.

   • 2010, Muriel Lede, The Sacrament of Conception, page 264:

     All of her attention is focused on surveying the rippled surface of my sturdy, pileous torso. I encourage her by stroking down her hair.