leather

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English lether, from Old English leþer (“leather”), from Proto-West Germanic *leþr, from Proto-Germanic *leþrą (“leather”), possibly borrowed from Proto-Celtic *ɸlitrom, *letros, from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥tro-. Cognate with West Frisian leare (“leather”), Low German Leder (“leather”), Dutch leder, leer (“leather”), German Leder (“leather”), Danish læder (“leather”), Swedish läder (“leather”), Icelandic leður (“leather”). === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈlɛðə/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈlɛðɚ/ (General Australian, New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈleðə/ (Scotland) IPA(key): /ˈlɛðəɾ/ (dialectal, obsolete) IPA(key): /ˈlʌðəɹ/ Rhymes: -ɛðə(ɹ) === Noun === leather (countable and uncountable, plural leathers) A tough material produced from the skin of animals, by tanning or similar process, used e.g. for clothing; often denotes leather from cattle when no qualifier specifies otherwise. Coordinate term: pseudoleather A piece of the above used for polishing. (colloquial) A cricket ball or football. (plural: leathers) clothing made from the skin of animals, often worn by motorcycle riders. (baseball) A good defensive play (boxing) A punch. (dated, humorous) The skin. Clipping of fruit leather. ==== Hyponyms ==== (types of leather): chagrin, cordovan, cordwain, galuchat, maroquin, morocco, morocco leather, shagreen, sharkskin, taw ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== Tok Pisin: let → Esperanto: ledo → Ido: ledro ==== Translations ==== === Adjective === leather (not comparable) Made of leather. Synonym: leathern Referring to one who wears leather clothing (motorcycle jacket, chaps over 501 jeans, boots), especially as a sign of sadomasochistic homosexuality. Referring to an establishment of familial relations through agreed sexual or romantic deviance. ==== Translations ==== === Verb === leather (third-person singular simple present leathers, present participle leathering, simple past and past participle leathered) (transitive) To cover with leather. (ambitransitive) To form a leathery surface (on). (transitive) To strike forcefully. (transitive) To spank or beat with a leather belt or strap. ==== Derived terms ==== === References === === Anagrams === Tar Heel, Tarheel, haltere, lethera