lambskin
UK[ˈlæmskɪn]US[ˈlæmskɪn]
n
The skin of a lamb, especially when dressed with the fleece on and used as a soft, warm material for clothing or rugs.
n
Leather made from the skin of a lamb.
Morpheme Breakdown
lamb
skin
lamb
young sheep
skin
hide, pelt
Etymology
The word 'lambskin' is a transparent compound formed from two ancient Germanic roots. 'Lamb' descends directly from the Old English 'lamb', a term for the young of the sheep, which has cognates across Germanic languages. 'Skin' entered mainstream English from Old Norse 'skinn', meaning hide or fur, during the Viking Age, eventually supplanting the native Old English word 'hyd' (hide) for many uses. The compound logically denotes the specific hide or pelt obtained from a lamb, prized for its particular softness, fineness, and warmth compared to leather from mature animals. Its formation follows the classic English pattern of combining two concrete nouns to create a new, specific material term.
Analysis
Structure: lamb (young sheep) + skin (hide, pelt)
- lamb: From Old English 'lamb', meaning a young sheep. Germanic origin.
- skin: From Old Norse 'skinn', meaning animal hide or pelt. Germanic origin.
Examples
She wore a coat trimmed with luxurious lambskin.
The gloves were made from the softest lambskin leather.
A traditional lambskin rug was laid in front of the fireplace.