cham|ois

cham|ois
cham|ois «SHAM ee» noun, plural -ois, verb.
–n.
1. a small, goatlike antelope that lives in the high mountains of Europe and western Asia, known for its agility in climbing steep cliffs: »

One can see marmots, wild deer and chamois (Observer).

2. Also, chammy, shammy, or shammy leather. a) soft leather made from its skin or from the skin of sheep, goats, or deer. b) a piece of this, used for cleaning or polishing.
–v.t.
to prepare (leather) to resemble chamois.
[< French chamois < Late Latin camōx, -ōcis]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • cham·ois — noun, pl chamois 1 /ʃæmˈwɑː/ [count] : a small animal that looks like a goat and that lives on mountains in Europe and western Asia 2 /ˈʃæmi/ 2 a [noncount] : soft leather that is made from the skin of goats, sheep, or chamois called also (Brit)… …   Useful english dictionary

  • cham — an·te·cham·ber; as·cham; cham·ae·ba·tia; cham·ae·ce·phal·ic; cham·ae·conch; cham·ae·cra·ni·al; cham·ae·cris·ta; cham·ae·cyp·a·ris; cham·ae·lir·i·um; cham·ae·ne·ri·on; cham·ae·phyte; cham·ae·pro·so·pic; cham·aer·rhine; cham·ae·sau·ra;… …   English syllables

  • ois — pter·ois; que·bec·ois; cham·ois; qué·bec·ois; …   English syllables

  • chamois — cham·ois …   English syllables

  • chamois — cham•ois [[t]ˈʃæm i[/t]] for 1also [[t]ʃæmˈwɑ[/t]] n. pl. cham•ois, cham•oix [[t]ˈʃæm iz[/t]] for 1also [[t]ʃæmˈwɑ[/t]] 1) mam an agile goat antelope, Rupicapra rupicapra, of high mountains of Europe 2) clo a soft, pliable leather from any of… …   From formal English to slang

  • chamois — cham|ois [ˈʃæmwa: US ˈʃæmi] n plural chamois [Date: 1500 1600; : French; Origin: Late Latin camox] 1.) a wild animal like a small goat that lives in the mountains of Europe and southwest Asia 2.) also chamois .leather [ˈʃæmi leðər US ər] [U and… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • chamois — cham|ois [ ʃæmi ] noun 1. ) count a wild animal similar to a goat that lives in the mountains of Europe and Asia 2. ) count or uncount soft leather made from the skin of a chamois, goat, or sheep, used for cleaning things and making them shine …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • chammy — Chamois Cham ois (sh[a^]m m[y^] or sh[.a]*moi ; 277), n. [F. chamois, prob. fr. OG. gamz, G. gemse.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A small species of antelope ({Rupicapra tragus}), living on the loftiest mountain ridges of Europe, as the Alps, Pyrenees, etc. It… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Chamois — Cham ois (sh[a^]m m[y^] or sh[.a]*moi ; 277), n. [F. chamois, prob. fr. OG. gamz, G. gemse.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A small species of antelope ({Rupicapra tragus}), living on the loftiest mountain ridges of Europe, as the Alps, Pyrenees, etc. It… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • chamois leather — Chamois Cham ois (sh[a^]m m[y^] or sh[.a]*moi ; 277), n. [F. chamois, prob. fr. OG. gamz, G. gemse.] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A small species of antelope ({Rupicapra tragus}), living on the loftiest mountain ridges of Europe, as the Alps, Pyrenees, etc. It… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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