Leather Definition

lĕthər

leathers

noun

The dressed or tanned hide of an animal.

American Heritage

A material consisting of animal skin prepared for use by removing any hair and tanning.

Webster's New World

Any of various articles or parts made of this material.

Webster's New World

The flap of a dog's ear.

Webster's New World

(plural: leathers) Clothing made from the skin of animals, often worn by motorcycle riders.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

verb

To cover wholly or in part with the dressed or tanned hide of an animal.

American Heritage

To cover or furnish with leather.

Webster's New World

To whip or thrash with or as with a leather strap.

Webster's New World

To strike forcefully.

He leathered the ball all the way down the street.

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

adjective

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

American Heritage

Of or made of leather.

Webster's New World

Of or having to do with sadomasochists, esp. homosexual sadomasochists.

Webster's New World

Synonyms:

other

(types of leather): chagrin, cordovan, cordwain, galuchat, maroquin, morocco, morocco leather, shagreen, sharkskin.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Leather

Singular:

leather

Plural:

leathers

From Middle English lether, from Old English leþer (“leather"), from Proto-Germanic *leþrÄ… (“leather"), from Proto-Indo-European *letrom (“leather"). Cognate with West Frisian leare (“leather"), Dutch leder, leer (“leather"), German Leder (“leather"), Swedish läder (“leather"), Icelandic leður (“leather"). The Celtic forms (Welsh lledr, Irish lethar) ultimately derive from the Germanic.

From Wiktionary
Middle English lether from Old English lether- (as in letherhose leather pants)

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition