fitch
n. countablen. a small, furry animal from Europe that looks like a weasel. It is also the name for the hair of this animal when it is used to make high-quality paintbrushes.
n. the European polecat, Mustela putorius, or its fur. In artistic contexts, refers to the hair of this animal used in the manufacture of fine brushes.
The artist used a fitch brush for the fine details.
Traditional brush makers still value fitch hair for its unique combination of stiffness and flexibility in oil painting.
While modern synthetic fibers have largely replaced animal hair, some restoration experts insist on using a genuine fitch to replicate the specific texture of eighteenth-century portraiture.
Often used as a modifier before another noun, such as 'fitch brush' or 'fitch hair'.