CHAMOIS

chamois, Rupicapra rupicapra

(noun) hoofed mammal of mountains of Eurasia having upright horns with backward-hooked tips

chamois, chamois leather, chammy, chammy leather, shammy, shammy leather

(noun) a soft suede leather formerly from the skin of the chamois antelope but now from sheepskin

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

chamois (countable and uncountable, plural chamoises or chamois)

A short-horned goat antelope native to mountainous terrain in southern Europe; Rupicapra rupicapra.

Usually as chamois leather: soft pliable leather originally made from the skin of chamois (nowadays the hides of deer, sheep, and other species of goat are alternatively used).

The traditional colour of chamois leather.

An absorbent cloth used for cleaning and polishing, formerly made of chamois leather.

Adjective

chamois (not comparable)

Chamois-colored.

Verb

chamois (third-person singular simple present chamoises, present participle chamoising, simple past and past participle chamoised)

(transitive) To clean with a chamois leather cloth.

Synonym: shammy

Anagrams

• chamiso

Source: Wiktionary


Cham"ois, n. Etym: [F. chamois, prob. fr. OG. gamz, G. gemse.]

1. (Zoöl.)

Definition: A small species of antelope (Rupicapra tragus), living on the loftiest mountain ridges of Europe, as the Alps, Pyrenees, etc. It possesses remarkable agility, and is a favorite object of chase.

2. A soft leather made from the skin of the chamois, or from sheepskin, etc.; -- called also chamois leather, and chammy or shammy leather. See Shammy.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

20 June 2025

MODEST

(adjective) marked by simplicity; having a humble opinion of yourself; “a modest apartment”; “too modest to wear his medals”


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