Camois

/ˈkæmwɑː/ noun

Definition

A variant or alternative name for chamois leather, soft and flexible material historically made from chamois goat or sheep skin.

Etymology

A spelling variant of chamois, from French chamois, ultimately from Latin camox. Different spelling variations emerged as the word traveled through European languages and entered English.

Kelly Says

Chamois leather was so prized for polishing that counterfeiters made fake chamois from cheaper leather, which led to huge 18th-century leather fraud scandals and eventually legal standards for what could be called 'chamois'!

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