leather

[ leth -er ]

/ ˈlɛð ər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR leather ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the skin of an animal, with the hair removed, prepared for use by tanning or a similar process designed to preserve it against decay and make it pliable or supple when dry.

an article made of this material.

stirrup leather.

adjective

pertaining to, made of, or resembling leather: leather processing; leather upholstery.

Slang. catering to or patronized by customers who typically wear leather clothing, often as a means of signaling interest in or preference for sadomasochistic sexual activity.

verb (used with object)

to cover or furnish with leather.

Informal. to beat with a leather strap.

Nearby words

least weasel, least-worst, leastways, leastwise, leat, leather, leather beetle, leather jack, leather star, leather-bottle stomach, leather-hard

Origin of leather

before 1000; Middle English lether, Old English lether- (in compounds); cognate with Dutch, German leder, Old Norse lethr, MIr lethar skin, leather, Welsh lledr, Middle Breton lezr leather

Related formsun·der·leath·er, nounun·leath·ered, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for leather

With every stroke, her leather boot creaked under the weight of her leg.
Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau|Ian Frisch|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Poking out of the shiny gold pages is a “distinctive silk marker”—also gold—which “complements the color of the leather.”
Rand Paul’s Many Leather-Bound Books|Olivia Nuzzi|November 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Now get on your knees and crawl,” he demanded with the slap of a leather horse crop against the palm of his hand.
Whip It: Secrets of a Dominatrix|Justin Jones|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When he goes to the doctor, he sees another leatherman—former International Mr. Leather, Dr. Tony Mills.
Coming Out Kinky to Your Doctor, in Black and Blue|Heather Boerner|October 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Leather bonnets that marked the early 19th century gave way to styled hair and lavishly veiled hats of the 20th century.
The Best-Dressed Way to Say Goodbye|Justin Jones|October 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The buffalo skin is taken, as before observed, from the cows only, as the leather of the bulls is too heavy.
Travels in the Interior of North America, Part I, (Being Chapters I-XV of the London Edition, 1843)|Alexander Philipp Maximilian, Prince of Wied
Another form of knife suitable for paring the edges of leather is shown at fig. 60, B.
Bookbinding, and the Care of Books|Douglas Cockerell
On some leather the water, if it comes through, leaves a stain.
The Boy Mechanic, Book 2|Various
I saw that he had disengaged the leather straps which ran round it, pulling them clear of their loops.
The Adventures of Harry Revel|Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
Another method of reinforcing the leather defence has been named the Trellice coat.
Armour & Weapons|Charles John Ffoulkes

British Dictionary definitions for leather

leather

/ (ˈlɛðə) /

noun

a material consisting of the skin of an animal made smooth and flexible by tanning, removing the hair, etc
(as modifier)leather goods Related adjectives: coriaceous, leathern

(plural) leather clothes, esp as worn by motorcyclists

the flap of a dog's ear

verb (tr)

to cover with leather

to whip with or as if with a leather strap

Word Origin for leather

Old English lether- (in compound words); related to Old High German leder, Old Norse lethr-

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for leather

leather

Old English leðer (in compounds only) "hide, skin, leather," from Proto-Germanic *lethran (cf. Old Norse leðr, Old Frisian lether, Old Saxon lethar, Middle Dutch, Dutch leder, Old High German ledar, German leder), from PIE *letro- "leather" (cf. Old Irish lethar, Welsh lledr, Breton lezr). As an adjective from early 14c.; it acquired a secondary sense of "sado-masochistic" 1980s, having achieved that status in homosexual jargon in the 1970s.

Idioms and Phrases with leather

leather

see hell-bent for leather.

leather

noun

adjective

verb (used with object)

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Nearby words

Origin of leather

Examples from the Web for leather

British Dictionary definitions for leather

leather

noun

verb (tr)

Word Origin for leather

Word Origin and History for leather

leather

Idioms and Phrases with leather

leather