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Glite Dictionary
kamleika

kamleika

9.9
A waterproof coat made from seal intestines and worn by Aleut people
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : kamleika
  • I used to make kamleikas from sea lion intestines and mukluks from its skin.

Examples

  • The hunter wore his kamleika to protect himself from the harsh winds while out at sea.

  • She grabbed her kamleika to keep it from blowing away and caught at shrubs to keep from falling to the ground.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • She wrapped herself in her kamleika and set out, but the wind bent her over as far as she could bend with that stomach big with Katya.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Traditionally, the Aleut people crafted kamleikas from animal intestines for protection against the elements.

  • During the storm, she put on her kamleika to stay dry and warm while fishing.

Synonyms

sealskin
vskamleika
1 7.9

A coat or jacket made from seal fur to keep you warm

is made from animal intestines and designed to be waterproof
haick
vskamleika
  • Archaic
9.9

Large white cloth worn over the body by people in North Africa to protect from sun and wind

is made from animal intestines and serves as a waterproof outer garment

How Waterproof

kamleika
  • US
9.9
oilskin
1 6.7
raincoat
51 1.0

Surface Forms

kamleika singular
kamleikas plural

Etymology

Kamleika comes from the Aleut language and entered English through Russian, where it named a thin, waterproof coat sewn from seal intestines to keep out water. So today kamleika still means the traditional 'waterproof outer garment' worn by the Aleut people.