chamois Definition

chamois
noun chamois (plural)

1. An agile hoofed mammal, native to S Europe, Asia Minor and the Caucasus region, which has short vertical horns with backward-pointing tips, and a long reddish-brown, brown or black coat.
2. Soft suede leather, formerly made from the skin of this animal, but now usually made from the hides of sheep, lambs or goats.
3. A piece of this used as a polishing cloth for glass, etc. Also written shammyshammies) and shammy leather or chamois leather.
4. A light fawn colour.

adj

1. Chamois-coloured.

verb chamoised, chamoising

1. To prepare (leather) like chamois.
2. To polish something with a chamois.

Etymology: 16c: French.