When rewetted or warmed, it can be shaped to create durable firm fabric for book covers, hats, and elements of clothing.

The etymology of the term remains uncertain; the Oxford English Dictionary considers the commonly mentioned derivation from the name of the city of Bokhara unlikely.

Highly durable, buckram does not allow the bookbinder's paste to seep through and discolor or stain the book's front and back covers.

[5] Pyroxylin-impregnated buckram is often favored due to its resistance to water, insects, fungi, and general wear.

[7] Millinery buckram is impregnated with a starch which allows it to be softened in water, pulled over a hat block, and left to dry into a hard shape.