noun ( pl. cham·ois )
1.
/ ˈʃæmwɑː; NAmE ˈʃæmi/ [ C ] an animal like a small deer , that lives in the mountains of Europe and Asia
2.
/ˈʃæmi/ (also sham·my ) ( BrE also ˌchamois ˈleather , ˌshammy ˈleather ) [ U , C ] a type of soft leather, made from the skin of goats , sheep, etc.; a piece of this, used especially for cleaning windows
3.
/ ˈʃæmi; NAmE / [ U ] ( NAmE ) a type of soft thick cotton cloth, used especially for making shirts
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from French , of unknown ultimate origin.