FABRIC NAMES & DESCRIPTIONS

SEWING TOOLS

SEWING TECHNIQUES

COLOUR NAMES

FUR & LEATHER NAMES

EMBELLISHMENTS

BUTTONS

EMBROIDERY

DYESTUFFS & DYEING

Medieval Fur & Leather Names

Many are the names of furs used in medieval times. Listed below are those that I've come across, their descriptions and the date it is first referred to if known.

A
amice 16th century grey fur, possibly squirrel
aquerne 12th century, squirrel's fur
armine see ermine

B
badger fur of the badger, not used by the wealthy
bazan 13th century sheepskin tanned in oak or birch bark
beaver the fur of which was used for gloves
bise fur of the gey or martyn, or back of the winter squirrel.
bison fur of the gey or martyn, or back of the winter squirrel.
boge white or black lambskin, wool outwards used as trimming
bogey white or black lambskin, wool outwards used as trimming
buckskin 15th century leather from the ide of a buck used for making gloves
budge sheepskin worn with the wool outwards.
byses fur. probably deerskin
bysettes fur. see gris

C
calaber fur of the grey squirrel from Calabria
catskin medieval. only fur from plain black or white cats used this name. Tabby cat skin was referred to as "wildcat"
caurimauri 14th century coarse fabric probably identical to cary
chele fur from the martin's throat
cheveril kid leather used for glove
chimamus fur probably of the pontic mouse
cicimus see chisamus
coney fur of the grown rabbit
cordovan fine Spanish leather
cordwain fine quality Spanish goatskin leather
cristygrey 1393 fur classed as wildware, that fur being taken from the head
croppes 15th century fur made from the rump of an animal

D

E
ermine from 12th century. Worn by kings and the nobility, the most highly valued. White winter fur of the stoat. Powdering of ermine (the spots on the animal's tail) began in the second half of the 14th century to distinguish royalty from ordinary ermine.

F
feathers from 15th century onwards, especially ostrich
filches see fitches
fitchet fur of the polecat or fitch, the under fur being yellow-buff and the upper fur, a rich glossy brown to black
fitchews see fitchet
foin fur of the marten, also known as stone or beech martin
fox fur medieval fur of the native fox
foynes the fur of the polecat
fycheux 15th century fur of the foumart, polecat or fichet

G
genet fur of civit cat, grey or black
godelming 14th century calfskin leather
grey thought to be the fur of the grey squirrel imported from Germany
gris grey fur from the squirrel or martin. see bise

H
hare from 1278. The fur of the hind legs of the hare, the most prized being that of the white winter fur of the Irish hare.

I
ionetis the genet, the fur resembling the marten

J
jennet fur of civit cat, grey or black

K

L
lambskin 14th century onwards. black and white skin used for facing and linings.
leopards leopard skin
lerion 12th century onwards, thought to be the fur of the dormouse.
lettice white or pale grey fur, like miniver- possibly ferret or polecat.
lucern see luzard
luzard fur of the lynx

M
marters see martrons
martrons medieval- the fur of the pine marten, rich dark brown
martyn A fur see martron
menner English corruption of miniver
menu vair see miniver
mineveer see miniver
minever see miniver
miniver (1) mentioned 1278 fur of the white weazel/ ermine without the spots or tail. Red squirrel fur changing to pure white in winter.
miniver (2) from 15th century. a fur or skin of the squirrel- dark on the back, white on front
mink The black fur of putorius lutreola, resembling sable, but shorter and glossier fur

N
neat's leather medieval. Oxen hide used for footwear.

O
otter fur medieval. mentioned as early as 1200

P
pampilion 15th century black budge fur from Navarre. Later, a species of felt.
pellure medieval generic name for fur
polayn medieval. fur of the black squirrel, believed to be Polish
popel 15th century fur from the back of the squirrel
pople see popel
pured medieval. fur from the underside of an animal.

Q

R
rabbit 14th century rabbit fur worn by nobles.
roskyn the summer fur of a squirrel, chestnut or reddish colour.
ruskin see roskyn

S
sable medieval fur of a type of weasel favoured by royalty and the nobility, next in value to ermine, rich glossy dark brown, sometimes black.
shanks 15th century black fur from the shanks of kids, goats and lambs used for lining
stradling A fur see bison
stranlyng medieval autumn fur of the squirrel
strell fur, undentified

T

U

V
vair (1) 14th century composite fur of the white ermine and bluish grey of squirrel
vair (2) 12th century squirrel fur, grey on the back, white at the throat and underneath. Much used in 13th century.

W
wash-leather 15th century on. Very soft cream leather made of split sheepskin.
wildware medieval. imported furs of various animals.
wool medieval onwards. From sheep. divided into two groups according to the length of the hair- long produces worsteds, short produces woollens

XYZ
zibelines 14th century fur. see sable.
zornbolines 14th century fur see sable.

Copyright © Rosalie Gilbert
All text & photographs within this site are the property of Rosalie Gilbert unless stated.
Artifact images remain the property of the owner.
Images and text may not be copied and used without permission.