1. A type of sheep in Africa producing a coarse wool, used mainly in carpets. 2. A grade of lambskin (originally from Bokhara in Central Asia) with lustrous black hair which develops an attractive wavy pattern and is less curled than astrakhan. Also known as 'caracul' or 'broadtail'.
The Karakul or QaraQul (Persian: قراقل ; from Karakul, a village in Uzbekistan) is a breed of domesticated sheep. It originated in Central Asia, and some archaeological evidence points to it being bred there continuously since 1400 BC. Hailing from the desert regions of Central Asia, the Karakul is renowned for its ability to forage and thrive under extremely harsh living conditions.