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View synonyms for chamois

chamois

[ sham-ee; French sha-mwah ]

noun

, plural cham·ois, cham·oix [sham, -eez, sh, a, -, mwah].
  1. an agile, goatlike antelope, Rupicapra rupicapra, of high mountains of Europe: now rare in some areas.
  2. a soft, pliable leather from any of various skins dressed with oil, especially fish oil, originally prepared from the skin of the chamois.
  3. a piece of this leather.
  4. a cotton cloth finished to simulate this leather.
  5. a medium to grayish yellow color.


verb (used with object)

, cham·oised [sham, -eed], cham·ois·ing [sham, -ee-ing].
  1. to dress (a pelt) with oil in order to produce a chamois.
  2. to rub or buff with a chamois.

chamois

/ ˈʃæmɪ; ʃamwa /

noun

  1. ˈʃæmwɑː a sure-footed goat antelope, Rupicapra rupicapra, inhabiting mountains of Europe and SW Asia, having vertical horns with backward-pointing tips
  2. a soft suede leather formerly made from the hide of this animal, now obtained from the skins of sheep and goats
  3. Also calledchamois leathershammyshammy leatherchammychammy leatherˈʃæmɪ a piece of such leather or similar material used for polishing, etc
  4. ˈʃæmwɑː
    1. a yellow to greyish-yellow colour
    2. (as modifier)

      a chamois stamp



verb

  1. to dress (leather or skin) like chamois
  2. to polish with a chamois

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Word History and Origins

Origin of chamois1

First recorded in 1525–35; from Middle French, from Late Latin camox, presumably of pre-Latin origin; gems

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Word History and Origins

Origin of chamois1

C16: from Old French, from Late Latin camox of uncertain origin

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Example Sentences

With a synthetic chamois, dip it into the soapy mixture and, with small circles, gently clean the surface of the record.

A warm brushed-fleece interior, ultra-dense foam chamois, and wind- and ­water-repellent nylon-elastane outer drew us to this bib.

The chamois will get more detergent exposure, and will rinse cleaner.

Let sweaty gear dry out before you toss it in the bin, especially shorts with chamois pads.

We happily wear these long after we’ve yanked off the chamois.

The Mail, helpfully, reports that Pippa has stocked up with special “chamois cream” for the purpose of protecting her butt.

The outside, also, well polished with sweet oil and stale milk, then enveloped in chamois leather.

The sight of the fellow wandering about a garden bareheaded and gloved in yellow chamois leather had begun to affect my nerves.

With weak unsteady steps he paced his room, and looked at the old Swiss chamois-gun above the door.

You will be glad to hear that Sir John's chamois leather waistcoat fits me quite well.

The chamois were very wary,—they would send one to look out; but the hunter must be still more wary,—put them off the scent.

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