The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Chamois \Cham"ois\ (sh[a^]m"m[y^] or sh[.a]*moi"; 277), n. [F.
   chamois, prob. fr. OG. gamz, G. gemse.]
   1. (Zool.) A small species of antelope (Rupicapra tragus),
      living on the loftiest mountain ridges of Europe, as the
      Alps, Pyrenees, etc. It possesses remarkable agility, and
      is a favorite object of chase.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. A soft leather made from the skin of the chamois, or from
      sheepskin, etc.; -- called also chamois leather, and
      chammy or shammy leather. See Shammy.
      [1913 Webster]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

chamois leather
    n 1: a soft suede leather formerly from the skin of the chamois
         antelope but now from sheepskin [syn: chamois, chamois
         leather, chammy, chammy leather, shammy, shammy
         leather]