leather English · revision 5780

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=c. 700}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈleð.ə/, US /ˈleð.ɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|lether]], from Old English leþer, found only in compounds such as leþerwyrhta “leather worker”,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[gem-pro|*leþrą]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Hoad 1986)^(Etymonline) which also gave Dutch leder, leer, German Leder and Old Norse leðr,^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) from PIE *letro-.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) The only cognates outside Germanic are Celtic: Old Irish lethar, Welsh lledr and Breton ler.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) Barnhart notes that this may be a western Indo-European word, or that one branch may have borrowed it from the other.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Tanned or dressed hide, in Old English compounds about 700.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The OED's first quotation for the simple word is from before 1225.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ An article made of leather, such as a strap, is from about 1400,^(OED 1989) and leather clothes such as boots and leggings, ''leathers'', from 1837.^(OED 1989) In cricket and football the ball is ''the leather'' from 1868.^(OED 1989) The adjective is from before 1333.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The verb meant to cover with leather before 1225,^(OED 1989) and to beat with a strap from before 1625;^(OED 1989) ''leather away'', to work hard, is from 1869.^(OED 1989) In the 1970s the word gained a sexual sense in gay slang, referring to leather clothing.^(Etymonline)^(AHD) Etymonline notes that in trade, skins dressed with the fur on are not called leather.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 700 – leþer- in compounds.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * a1225 – leather; to cover with leather.^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1400 – a leather strap.^(OED 1989)

+ * a1625 – to thrash.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1837 – ''leathers'', leather clothes.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1868 – the ball (cricket, football).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # The [[skin]] of an animal made smooth and flexible by [[tanning]], with the hair removed.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # ''(leathers)'' Leather clothes, especially as worn by motorcyclists.^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+ # Something made of leather, such as a strap.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # ''(informal)'' To beat with a strap; to thrash.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To cover with leather.^(AHD)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[leatherlike]]

+ * [[leather-hard]]

+ * [[leatherneck]]

+ * [[Leatheroid]]

+ * [[leatherwear]]

+ * [[leatherwood]]

+ * [[shoe-leather]]

+ * [[whitleather]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[leathern]]

+ * [[leathery]]

+ * [[leatherette]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}