What does sealskin mean?
Sealskin is the hide of a seal, particularly when processed into leather or fur for making warm, water-resistant clothing, footwear, and coverings. Historically, it was especially important in Arctic regions, where seals provided materials for garments, bags, and coverings for boats and sledges. The word can refer either to the material itself or, less commonly, to a complete object made from it. Descriptions such as “a sealskin coat” therefore normally indicate an item whose principal material is the processed hide of a seal, while “a covering of sealskin” emphasizes its use as a weatherproof surface. In contemporary contexts, the term may also appear in discussions of traditional material culture, historical collections, conservation, or synthetic materials made to imitate sealskin’s appearance. Its associations with warmth, craftsmanship, and survival in harsh environments give it a distinctive place in both descriptive and historical writing.
nounThe skin or pelt of a seal, especially the processed hide used for making clothing, footwear, and traditional coverings. It may also denote an item made from this material.
- The skin or pelt of a seal, especially when processed as leather or fur for use in clothing, footwear, and coverings.
- A garment or other object made from the skin of a seal.
"The boat was repaired with a strip of sealskin."
"She wore a traditional coat made from sealskin."
"The museum conservator examined a sealskin covering removed from an old kayak."
Usually singular or uncountable when referring to the material. The plural is appropriate for multiple skins or distinct objects made from sealskin.
"The archive preserves several sealskins made by nineteenth-century craftspeople."
Long prized for its warmth and water resistance, sealskin helped Arctic communities make clothing and coverings suited to a severe environment.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of sealskin
“Sealskin” is an English compound formed from “seal” and “skin.” “Seal” descends from Old English “seolh,” while “skin” comes from Old English “scinn”; both are inherited from Germanic vocabulary. The compound’s original sense is the skin of a seal, with references to garments and coverings arising from its use as a versatile material.
How sealskin is actually used
The word is commonly used as an uncountable noun when referring to the material, although the plural “sealskins” can refer to separate skins or objects. It is associated with traditional Arctic clothing and coverings, as well as with historical hunting and sealing communities.