chamois leather
Noun: A soft, pliable leather with a napped surface, traditionally made from the skin of the chamois antelope but now typically made from sheepskin or goatskin. It is known for its absorbent and non-abrasive qualities.
Chamois leather is used for polishing, cleaning, and drying surfaces without scratching them. - It is commonly used to dry and polish cars. - It is used in cleaning glass and other delicate surfaces. - It is favored by athletes as a quick-drying towel.
- Noun:
- After washing the car, he buffed it to a shine with a chamois leather.
- The window cleaner used a damp chamois leather to wipe the glass streak-free.
- She packed a chamois leather in her gym bag to dry off after swimming.
- "like a chamois leather": Used to describe something that is very soft and absorbent.
- This new microfiber cloth is as absorbent as a chamois leather.
- Chamois (noun): Often used as a shortened form for "chamois leather." It can also refer to the European antelope itself.
- He bought a new chamois for detailing his car.
- Shammy (noun): An informal, phonetic spelling and common variant for "chamois."
- Can you pass me the shammy to dry this?
- Polishing cloth: A cloth used for creating a shine.
- Drying leather: Emphasizes its absorbent function.
- Suede leather: Refers to the similar napped finish, though suede is typically from the inner split of a hide.
- To chamois (verb, rare): The act of polishing or drying with a chamois leather.
- He carefully chamoised the vintage car's hood.
The term specifically denotes the leather product, not the animal. Modern "chamois leather" is almost exclusively made from sheepskin, making the traditional connection to the chamois antelope largely historical. Its primary defining characteristics are its softness, absorbency, and lack of abrasiveness.
- a soft suede leather formerly from the skin of the chamois antelope but now from sheepskin