C19: from Botany Bay, where the wool came from originally
Botany wool in American English
merino wool of high quality
Word origin
after Botany Bay, orig. source of export
Botany wool in American English
noun
a fine wool obtained from merino sheep
Also called: botany
Word origin
[1880–85]This word is first recorded in the period 1880–85. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Chief of Staff, barnstorm, impressionism, jackpot, quotation mark