leather

Meanings

Noun

• A tough material produced from the skin of animals, by tanning or similar process, used e.g. for clothing.
• A piece of the above used for polishing.
• A cricket ball or football.
• (plural: leathers) clothing made from the skin of animals, often worn by motorcycle riders.
• A good defensive play
• A punch.
• The skin.

Adjective

• Made of leather.
• Referring to one who wears leather clothing (motorcycle jacket, chaps over 501 jeans, boots), especially as a sign of sadomasochistic homosexuality.

Verb

• To cover with leather.
• To strike forcefully.
• To beat with a leather belt or strap.

Origin

• From Middle English lether, from Old English leþer ("leather"), from Proto-Germanic *leþrą ("leather"), borrowing from Proto-Celtic *ɸlitro-, from Proto-Indo-European *pl̥tro-. Cognate with West Frisian leare ("leather"), Low German Leder ("leather"), Dutch leder, leer, German Leder ("leather"), Danish læder ("leather"), Swedish läder ("leather"), Icelandic leður ("leather").