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leatherneck

American  
[leth-er-nek] / ˈlɛð ərˌnɛk /

noun

Slang.
  1. a U.S. marine.


leatherneck British  
/ ˈlɛðəˌnɛk /

noun

  1. slang a member of the US Marine Corps

"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

Etymology

Origin of leatherneck

First recorded in 1910–15; from the leather-lined collar which was formerly part of the uniform

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.

John Wilcher runs the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office, not the Marine Corps, but he should borrow from the leatherneck recruiting pitch with one slight change.

From Washington Times • May 24, 2018

In a rare departure from form, he took a supporting role as a leatherneck in the 1960 World War II drama “Hell to Eternity,” co-starring Jeffrey Hunter and David Janssen.

From Washington Post • Feb. 12, 2018

The Army gripes likewise about those leatherneck guys The reporters were as curious about the President's health as about his opinions.

From Time Magazine Archive

To compound the horror, the author was a certified leatherneck with 26 years' service in the corps, retired Brigadier General William B. McKean.

From Time Magazine Archive

Again looking into the mirror, Bull said, “Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who’s the toughest leatherneck of all?”

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy