moleskin
moleskin Lexical Profile
moleskin Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A heavy, durable woven cotton fabric with a sheared pile on one side that gives it a soft, velvety texture resembling the fur of a mole.
"He bought a warm jacket lined with olive-green moleskin for the autumn weather."
A soft, adhesive-backed flannel or cotton padding applied to the skin, especially on the feet, to prevent chafing and blisters.
"Before starting the long hike, she placed a strip of moleskin over her heel to prevent blisters."
Sturdy trousers made from heavy moleskin fabric (usually used in the plural, 'moleskins').
"The gamekeeper wore a pair of weathered moleskins and heavy leather boots."
The soft, dark, velvety fur or pelt of a mole, historically used in making garments and trimmings.
"In the nineteenth century, genuine moleskin was prized by tailors for its remarkably dense, soft fur."
Word Nuance & Usage
When used in the plural ('moleskins'), the word specifically refers to trousers made from moleskin fabric. Do not confuse the generic fabric 'moleskin' with 'Moleskine', the capitalized brand name of a popular line of notebooks.
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the late 14th century as a compound of 'mole' and 'skin', originally referring to the actual pelt of the animal before being applied in the 19th century to the heavy cotton fabric that mimics its soft texture.