Pronunciation: [fˈɛlmʌŋɡə] (IPA) 
Fellmonger is a word of Old English origin that has been used to refer to a dealer in animal skins, particularly those of sheep or lambs. The word is spelled with a silent "g" and is pronounced as /ˈfɛlˌmʌŋɚ/. The first syllable "fell" refers to the animal skin, while "monger" means a trader or dealer. The word fellmonger is rarely used in modern times, but it is still found in some historical or literary texts.
A fellmonger is a noun that refers to a person who is involved in the trade of removing hair or wool from animal hides. The term is derived from the combination of two Old English words: "fell" meaning skin or hide, and "monger" meaning a dealer or trader.
In the context of the leather industry, a fellmonger is primarily responsible for buying raw, unprocessed animal skins from hunters, farmers, or slaughterhouses. They then proceed to remove the hair or wool from the hides through a process called fellmongering. This involves soaking the raw hides in water, scraping them using specialized tools or machinery to remove any remaining flesh or hair, and then drying and stretching them. The resulting product is known as "fell," which can be used for various applications including the production of leather.
Historically, fellmongers played a crucial role in the leather trade, particularly during medieval times when leather was a valuable commodity. They not only processed animal hides for leather production but also supplied tanners with the necessary raw materials. Nowadays, with the industrialization of the leather industry, the role of the fellmonger has become less prominent, as most of these processes are now undertaken by large-scale equipment and machinery.
In a broader sense, the term "fellmonger" can also metaphorically be used to describe someone who engages in dubious or unethical business practices. This connotation alludes to the historical perception of fellmongers as shrewd traders who would go to great lengths to profit from their dealings.
A dealer in hides.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "fellmonger" originated in Middle English and is derived from two separate words: "fell" and "monger".
"Fell" comes from the Old Norse word "fjall", which means "hide" or "skin". It is related to the German word "Fell" with the same meaning. In Old English, the term for this word was "felle", and it referred to the skin or hide of an animal, often with the fur or wool still attached.
"Monger" is derived from the Old English word "mongere" (or its variant "mangere"), which is related to the Old High German word "mangari". This term was used to describe a merchant or a trader. "Monger" is often added to the end of a word to indicate someone who deals in or trades a particular commodity.
