sharkskin
UK[ˈʃɑːkskɪn]US[ˈʃɑːrkskɪn]
n
The rough, hard skin of a shark.
n
A smooth, durable fabric with a slight sheen, originally made from the skin of a shark but now typically a synthetic or worsted wool fabric.
Morpheme Breakdown
shark
skin
shark
skin
Etymology
The word 'sharkskin' is a transparent compound formed from the names of two concrete entities: 'shark' and 'skin'. The term 'shark' entered English in the late 16th century, likely from a Mayan word via Spanish, referring specifically to the large marine predator. The word 'skin' has ancient Germanic roots, traceable to Proto-Germanic skinną, meaning a hide or pelt. The compound originally referred literally to the tough, abrasive hide of the shark, valued for its durability. By the early 20th century, the term was semantically extended through metaphor to describe a type of woven fabric, first made from actual sharkskin and later imitated in wool or synthetics, which visually resembles the texture and sheen of the animal's hide, leading to its modern dual meaning.
Analysis
Structure: shark + skin
shark: Origin: Late Middle English, of unknown origin. Functional role: The core noun denoting the fish.
skin: Origin: Old English scinn, from Old Norse skinn. Functional role: The core noun denoting the outer covering.
Examples
The old sailor's hands were as tough as sharkskin.
He wore a sharp suit made of grey sharkskin to the interview.
The texture of the upholstery was compared to that of polished sharkskin.