毛糸
けいと · keito · JLPT N2 · noun
wool
🧶 毛 (fur, hair) + 糸 (thread) = thread spun from fur or wool, i.e. knitting yarn
The first character 毛 means fur or hair, and 糸 means thread. Together they name yarn made from animal wool, the material used for knitting.
毛 — pictograph of hair/fur, 4 strokes
毛 is a pictograph showing a tuft of hair or animal fur, with strands fanning out from a base. The original oracle bone form depicted feathers or fur clearly, and the meaning broadened from 'hair/fur' to include 'wool,' 'down,' and figuratively 'tiny' or 'rough.' It also became a common surname.