cuir bouilli

English

Alternative forms

• cuirboille, cuir-bouilli, cuir-bouilly, cuirbouly

Etymology

In earlier uses, from Middle English quir-boili, cuirboille; in its modern form, borrowed from or respelling according to French cuir bouilli, from cuir (“leather”) + bouilli (“boiled”).

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /kwɪɚ bu.ji/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /kwɪə bu.ji/

Noun

cuir bouilli (uncountable)

1. Leather treated so as to become tough and rigid (and able to hold a moulded shape and decoration), used for artwork, carrying cases, and armor.
   • 1909, Charles Henry Ashdown, European Arms & Armor, page 65:

     Cuir-bouilli was leather softened by boiling (generally in oil), and stamped or moulded into a definite form when in that condition; upon drying it became intensely hard and tough.

Related terms

• cuirie, cuirass