From Online Etymology Dictionary:
“shammy (n.)
1650s, phonological spelling of chamois. Other bungled spellings include shambo (1610s), shamois, shamoys, shammies. Compare shay from chaise; shappo (1700) for chapeau; shapperoon (1620s) for chaperon.”
From collinsdictionary.com:
“shammy leather
Also called: chamois leather, shammy, shammy leather, chammy, chammy leather a piece of such leather or similar material used for polishing, etc”
On 18 February 2013, Lucy Shaw reported for the drinks business:
“Accolade Wines has issued a High Court writ against homewear company Cath Kidston in order to protect its well-known Babycham mascot.
The company has accused Cath Kidston of infringing its copyright when a “similar” deer-like creature appeared on its 2012 Christmas range last year.
The iconic Babycham logo, which became famous in the ‘70s, features a leaping baby chamois with a blue ribbon around its neck.
Accolade has also accused Kidston of risking bringing the sparkling perry brand into disrepute by associating an alcoholic drinks brand with products aimed at children…
Cath Kidston denies the accusation, insisting that there are no “substantial similarities” between the logos.
“While it cannot be denied that deer and chamois are both hoofed ruminants unaccustomed to wearing ribbons, the differences speak for themselves, not least arising out of the absence of horns and the springing ‘springbok’ stance,” said Kidston’s representative Philip Roberts…
Born in Marylebone, London, in 1958, Catherine Kidston MBE is best known for her floral patterns adorning everything from aprons and egg cups to gardening gloves.
She opened her first shop in London’s Notting Hill in 1993, selling hand-embroidered tea-towels and renovated furniture.
In February 2010, the company was valued at £75m when Kidston sold a majority stake to private equity investors TA Associates, retaining a minority stake and remaining the company’s creative director.
Babycham was the first alcoholic brand and the second ever brand to be advertised on commercial television in the UK with a campaign in 1957.”
From Wikipedia:
“Perry had not been a popular drink for some time but when Francis Showering submitted his new drink to the Three Counties Agricultural Show and other agricultural shows in the late 1940s and early 1950s it won prizes. It was initially called “baby champ” which later became Babycham.
Launched in the United Kingdom in 1953, Babycham was the first alcoholic product to be advertised on British commercial television, the campaign being launched in 1957, with the drink originally marketed as a “genuine champagne perry”. It was the first alcoholic drink aimed specifically at women and used the catchphrase “I’d Love a Babycham”.
In 1965, the Babycham Company sued the food writer Raymond Postgate, founder of the Good Food Guide, for an article in Holiday magazine in which he warned readers against Babycham, which “looks like champagne and is served in champagne glasses [but] is made of pears”. The company sued for libel, claiming the article implied it was dishonestly passing off Babycham as champagne. The judge in his summation stated that the article was defamatory, but that the jury could consider it as “fair comment” rather than a factual statement. The jury found for Postgate, and he was awarded costs.”
Julia Upton 