neat's-foot oil

American  

[neets-foot] / ˈnitsˌfʊt /

noun

1. a pale-yellow fixed oil made by boiling the feet and shinbones of cattle, used chiefly as a dressing for leather.

---

neat's-foot oil British  

noun

1. a yellow fixed oil obtained by boiling the feet and shinbones of cattle and used esp to dress leather

---

Etymology

Origin of neat's-foot oil

First recorded in 1570–80

Example Sentences

Leather can be preserved for years by the use of saddle soap and neat's-foot oil, but once it becomes hard and cracked nothing will make it serviceable.

From Project Gutenberg

These people remained here for some time, subsisting on shrimp salad, sea-moss farina, and neat's-foot oil.

From Project Gutenberg

Before using, perfectly new equipment should in all cases be given a light application of neat's-foot oil; soap is unnecessary because the leather is clean.

From Project Gutenberg

Let it receive as much neat's-foot oil as it will take.

From Project Gutenberg

Behind it dangled from dusty pegs portions of leather harness, which all the neat's-foot oil of the military pharmacopœia could never again restore to softness or pliability.

From Project Gutenberg