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Leather

 - 5 dictionary results

leath⋅er

[leth-er]
–noun
1. 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.
2. an article made of this material.
3. stirrup leather.
–adjective
4. pertaining to, made of, or resembling leather: leather processing; leather upholstery.
5. 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)
6. to cover or furnish with leather.
7. Informal. to beat with a leather strap.

Origin:
bef. 1000; ME lether, OE lether- (in compounds); c. D, G leder, ON lethr, MIr lethar skin, leather, Welsh lledr, Middle Breton lezr leather
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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leath·er   (lěth'ər)   
n.  
  1. The dressed or tanned hide of an animal, usually with the hair removed.

  2. Any of various articles or parts made of dressed or tanned hide, such as a boot or strap.

  3. The flap of a dog's ear.

tr.v.   leath·ered, leath·er·ing, leath·ers
  1. To cover wholly or in part with the dressed or tanned hide of an animal.

  2. Informal To beat with a strap made of hide.

adj.  
  1. Made of, relating to, or resembling dressed or tanned animal hide.

  2. Slang Of, relating to, or patronized by people who dress in leather clothing primarily to indicate a preference for sadomasochistic sex: leather types; a leather bar.


[Middle English lether, from Old English lether- (as in letherhose, leather pants).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

leather 
O.E. leðer (in compounds only) "hide, skin, leather," from P.Gmc. *lethran (cf. O.N. leðr, O.Fris. lether, M.Du. leder, O.H.G. ledar, Ger. leder), from PIE *letrom (cf. O.Ir. lethar, Welsh lledr, Breton lezr). The word became synonymous with "sado-masochism" 1980s, having achieved that status in homosexual jargon in the 1970s. Leatherneck "U.S. Marine" is Navy slang first recorded 1914, from the leather collars of their early uniforms; earlier in British use (1890) as a sailor's term for a soldier.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Bible Dictionary

Leather

a girdle of, worn by Elijah (2 Kings 1:8) and John the Baptist (Matt. 3:4). Leather was employed both for clothing (Num. 31:20; Heb. 11:37) and for writing upon. The trade of a tanner is mentioned (Acts 9:43; 10:6, 32). It was probably learned in Egypt.

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
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Idioms & Phrases

leather

see hell-bent for leather.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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