What does chevrette mean?
Chevrette is a noun denoting a particularly fine and soft leather made from the skin of a very young goat, or kid. Prized for its smooth texture, suppleness, and delicate grain, it has historically been sought after for luxury applications such as fine bookbinding and high-quality glovemaking, where softer or coarser hides would not suffice. The word derives from the French chèvre, meaning 'goat', placing it in the same etymological family as caprine and even chevron. Today, chevrette is a specialist term that appears mainly in the vocabularies of conservators, binders, and leather merchants rather than in everyday conversation. Its value lies precisely in that specificity: where 'leather' describes a broad material, chevrette names a precise grade and source, signalling craftsmanship and quality. For anyone describing antique bindings, fine accessories, or traditional leatherwork, it offers an exact and evocative word.
nounA fine, soft leather made from the skin of a very young goat or kid, valued especially in bookbinding and fine glovemaking.
- A fine soft leather made from the skin of a young goat or kid.
"The rare volume was rebound in chevrette, its pale surface smooth as silk."
"The binder chose a supple chevrette to cover the first edition."
"Gloves cut from chevrette were prized for their delicate feel and durability."
As a mass noun referring to the material, chevrette is usually uncountable; the plural appears only when referring to individual pieces or types of the leather.
"The tannery supplied chevrettes of varying shades for the restoration project."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of chevrette
Chevrette comes from the French chèvre, meaning 'goat', itself descended from the Latin capra. The diminutive form reflects the leather's origin in the skins of young goats. English borrowed the word through the language of trade and craft, particularly bookbinding. It shares its ultimate Latin root with words such as caprine, chevron, and cabriole.
How chevrette is actually used
Chevrette is a specialist term encountered chiefly in bookbinding, leathercraft, and discussions of historic bindings; it is rare in everyday speech.
Easily confused with chevrette
A chevron is a V-shaped pattern or military rank stripe, whereas chevrette is a soft leather made from young goatskin.
A charrette (or charette) is an intense collaborative design session or a small cart, while chevrette refers to kidskin leather.