ETYM French chamois, prob. from og. gamz, German gemse.
1. A soft suede leather formerly from the sheep of the chamois antelope but now from sheepskin; SYN. chamois leather, chammy, chammy leather, shammy, shammy leather.
2. Hoofed mammal of mountains of Eurasia having upright horns with backward-hooked tips; SYN. Rupicapra rupicapra.
Goatlike mammal Rupicapra rupicapra found in mountain ranges of S Europe and Asia Minor. It is brown, with dark patches running through the eyes, and can be up to 80 cm/2.6 ft high. Chamois are very sure-footed, and live in herds of up to 30 members.
Both sexes have horns which may be 20 cm/8 in long. These are set close together and go up vertically, forming a hook at the top. Chamois skin is very soft, and excellent for cleaning glass, but the chamois is now comparatively rare and “chamois leather” is often made from the skin of sheep and goats.
Cotton fabric made in imitation of chamois leather. + prikaži više