Cordwan

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A high-quality leather traditionally made from goatskin, often used for fine gloves or shoes
2. A soft, smooth leather produced from the hide of a goat, prized for its durability and suppleness
3. A premium goatskin leather valued historically for its superior finish and suitability in crafting delicate garments

Etymology: In medieval Spain, the city of Córdoba was famous for its goatskin leather, which was tanned and dyed to a fine, durable finish. The leather was prized enough that its name travelled with it. Old French took the name as "cordouan," and English borrowed it as "cordwan," a name for a soft, high-quality leather used for shoes and other fine goods. The city's name is still visible in the modern "cordovan." English also built a trade name on the material. A "cordwainer" was a craftsman who worked cordwan, and the word was a common term for a shoemaker, especially one who made shoes from this leather rather than from cheaper hides. Shoemakers' guilds in English towns used the name for generations, so the word survives in surnames like Cordwainer. The leather and the trade shared a name, though the trade term outlasted the leather's everyday use.

Synonyms: cordovan