patent leather
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of patent leather
An Americanism dating back to 1820–30
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Everybody should have some patent leather in their closet.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2024
One of her earliest childhood memories is fixating on a pair of pair of shiny patent leather shoes, when she was about five years old, and getting her father to buy them for her.
From BBC ● Mar. 14, 2024
In contrast, the menswear collection featured sharp tailoring and shorts, complimented by patent leather shoes in black, green and brown with prominent silver buckles and belts.
From Reuters ● Sep. 18, 2023
Her grandmother kept a small box, given to the family by the funeral home, of the items found with Denise — patent leather shoes, a pocketbook, a dainty handkerchief.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 14, 2023
Three Kings Day Dear Little Book, I had such a time deciding between the patent leather and white leather for church today.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
