Leather

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈleðə/
• US IPA: /ˈlɛðɚ/
• Rhymes: -ɛðə(r)

Origin

From Middle English lether, from Old English leþer ("leather"), from Proto-Germanic *leþrą ("leather"), from Proto-Indo-European *letrom ("leather"). Cognate with West Frisian leare ("leather"), Dutch leder, leer ("leather"), German Leder ("leather"), Swedish läder ("leather"), Icelandic leður ("leather"). The Celtic forms (Welsh lledr, Irish lethar) ultimately derive from the Germanic.

Full definition of leather

Noun

1. A tough material produced from the skin of animals, by tanning or similar process, used e.g. for clothing.
2. A piece of the above used for polishing.
3. (colloquial) A cricket ball or football.
4. (plural: leathers) clothing made from the skin of animals, often worn by motorcycle riders.
5. (baseball) A good defensive playJones showed good leather to snare that liner.
6. (dated, humorous) The skin.

Hyponyms

Derived terms

• stirrup leather : the strap which hangs the stirrup from the saddle.

Adjective

1. Made of leather.
• 1898, Winston Churchill, The Celebrity Chapter 2, Sunning himself on the board steps, I saw for the first time Mr. Farquhar Fenelon Cooke....A silver snaffle on a heavy leather watch guard which connected the pockets of his corduroy waistcoat, together with a huge gold stirrup in his Ascot tie, sufficiently proclaimed his tastes.
2. Referring to one who wears leather clothing (motorcycle jacket, chaps over 501 jeans, boots), especially as a sign of sadomasochistic homosexuality.

Verb

1. To cover with leather.
2. To strike forcefully.He leathered the ball all the way down the street.

Derived terms

Anagrams

• haltere
• lethera
• Tar Heel