I. ˈlethə(r) noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English lether, from Old English lether-; akin to Old High German leder leather, Old Norse lethr-, Old Irish lethar
1.
a. : the skin of an animal or some part of such skin tanned, tawed, or otherwise dressed for use to render it resistant to putrefaction and relatively soft and flexible when dry
b. : dressed hides
a dealer in leather
2.
a. : skin ; specifically : a person's skin
fell and scraped a bit of leather off
b. : the pendulous part of the ear of a dog (as a hound) — see dog illustration
3. : something wholly or partly made of leather: as
a.
(1) : strap
(2) chiefly Irish : a strap used to discipline schoolchildren
hit the front desk a ferocious crack with the leather — James Plunkett
b. : a pump washer
that pump leaks at the leathers — Joseph Whitehill
c. : stirrup leather
riding as the Boers always did, with long leathers — Stuart Cloete
d. leathers plural : leggings or breeches made of leather
a number of members of the Quality, on shining horses, their leathers creaking beautifully — F.M.Ford
e. : any of various balls used in games: as
(1) : cricket ball
(2) : football
(3) : baseball
f. : the tip of a billiard cue
g. : the leather-covered part of an oar that engages the oarlock
h. : pocketbook , purse , wallet
maybe you can get his leather ; I couldn't — J.F.Fishman
4. : a brownish orange that is yellower, stronger, and slightly lighter than spice or gold pheasant and paler and slightly yellower than feuille morte — called also adust, oriole, tan
II. transitive verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English letheren, from lether, n.
1.
a. : to apply or supply leather to : bind or cover with leather : form into leather
b. : to form a surface like leather on (a skin or pelt) especially by treading
2. : to beat with a strap : thrash
before I leather the answers out of you — B.T.Cleeve
III. adjective
Etymology: leather (I)
: relating to, made of, or resembling leather
a leather jacket
IV. adjective
: relating to, catering especially to, or being homosexuals exhibiting macho or masochistic behavior
leather bars