nubuck

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noun

A type of brushed, soft calf leather, similar to suede. Differs from suede in that while suede is created from the flesh (inner) side of a hide, nubuck is created using the grain (outer) side, giving it added strength and durability.

Less commonScrabble 14
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Meanings

nounnubuck (countable and uncountable, plural nubucks)

plural nubucks

  1. countableuncountableA type of brushed, soft calf leather, similar to suede. Differs from suede in that while suede is created from the flesh (inner) side of a hide, nubuck is created using the grain (outer) side, giving it added strength and durability.

Origin

Perhaps from new and buck (as in buckskin).

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish nupukki
  • nupukkitype of brushed leather
French nubuck
  • nubucktype of brushed leather
German Nubuk, Nubukleder
  • Nubuktype of brushed leather
  • Nubukledertype of brushed leather
Italian nabuk
  • nabuktype of brushed leather
Spanish nabuk
  • nabuktype of brushed leather
Cite this entry
APA

nubuck. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nubuck

MLA

“nubuck.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nubuck. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “nubuck,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/nubuck.

Source: nubuck on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.