cordwain n.

"shoemaker, leatherworker," originally "a worker in Cordovan leather," mid-14c.; mid-12c. as a surname, from Anglo-French cordewaner, from Old French cordoan "(leather) of Cordova," the Spanish city whose leather was famous for quality. Compare cordovan, a later borrowing directly from Spanish.

It is sometimes goatskin tanned and dressed, but more frequently split horsehide; it differs from morocco in being prepared from heavy skins and in retaining its natural grain. During the middle ages the finest leather came from Spain; the shoes of ladies and gentlemen of rank are often said to be of cordwain. [Century Dictionary]

Related: Cordwainery.

1590s, "of or pertaining to Cordova," the Spanish city, former capital of Moorish Spain (modern Córdoba); the name is said to be Carthaginian, from Phoenician qorteb "oil press."

As a noun, "fine Spanish leather," 1620s, from Spanish cordovan (modern cordoban), from cordovano (adj.) "of Cordova." This is a later adoption of the word that had come into English earlier as cordwain, cordewane (see cordwain).