peau de chagrin
/ˌpəʊ də ʃaˈɡrã/ /ˌpəʊ də ˈʃaɡr(ɪ)n/noun
Used allusively to indicate the progressive diminution of something, especially the human lifespan.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in ‘George Eliot’ (1819–1880), novelist (real name Mary Ann Evans). From French peau de chagrin, lit. ‘skin of grained leather’ from peau + de + chagrin.
- mutter
- mutterance
- mutterer
- muttering
- mutteringly
- muttery
- mutt-eye
- mutti
- mutton
- mutton bird
- muttonbirder
- mutton-bird gale
- muttonbirding
- mutton bird islands
- mutton-bird scrub
- mutton-bird tree
- mutton bone
- mutton chops
- mutton-chop whiskered
- mutton chop whiskers
- mutton cloth
- mutton dressed as lamb
- mutton dummy
- mutton fat
- mutton-fish