MOLESKIN  , a

term employed not only for the skin of a mole but also, from a real or fancied resemblance, for a stout heavy cotton fabric of leathery consistence woven as a satin twill on a strong warp . It is shorn before being dyed or bleached . Being of an exceedingly durable and economical texture, it has been much worn by working-men, especially outdoor labourers . It is also used for gun-cases, carriage-covers, and several purposes in which a fabric capable of resisting rough usage is desirable .