Plain English Meaning
A piece of soft leather used like a filter when fueling an aircraft. Fuel goes through it, but dirt and water do not.
Full Definition
A soft, porous leather cloth used as a filter during aircraft refueling to trap solid contaminants and separate water from aviation fuel. Fuel passes through the chamois while water beads up and is held back, helping ensure clean, water-free fuel enters the tank.
Context Anchor
Seen in refueling procedures, especially when fuel is poured from a container through a funnel into an aircraft fuel tank.
Derivation
Chamois (pronounced 'shammy') comes from the French name for a small mountain goat or antelope, whose hide was traditionally used to make this kind of soft, absorbent leather. The same material is familiar from car detailing, where it's used to dry paintwork without scratching.
Why Pilots Care
Water in fuel can cause engine failure; the chamois provides a simple before .