I. ˈshamē, -mi, in sense 1 also (ˈ)sham|wä noun
( plural cham·ois also cha·moix in sense 1 -ē(z) or -i(z) or -wä(z); in other senses -ēz or -iz)
Etymology: Middle French, from Late Latin camox, probably of non-Indo-European origin; akin to the source of Old High German gamiza chamois
1. : a small agile goatlike antelope ( Rupicapra rupicapra ) that lives on the loftiest mountain ridges of Europe and in the Caucasus and is a favorite quarry of hunters
2. also cham·my or sham·my or sha·moy ˈshamē, -mi
a. : a soft pliant leather prepared from the skin of the chamois
b. : an oil-tanned suede-finished leather prepared from the flesher of sheepskins
3. or shammy -es : a piece of chamois ; especially : a cloth used for washing or polishing
4. or chamois yellow also chamois skin : a grayish yellow that is redder, stronger, and slightly lighter than crash, lighter, stronger, and slightly redder than old ivory, and stronger and slightly redder than flax
II. ˈshamē, -mi transitive verb
( chamoised -mēd, -id ; chamoised -mēd, -id ; chamoising -mēiŋ, -ē.ēŋ, -i.iŋ ; chamoises -mēz, -iz)
1. also sha·moy ˈshamē, -mi : to prepare or dress like chamois
2. or sham·my ˈshamē, -mi : to clean or polish with a chamois