leat 
to engine- or mill-wheels. Pryce, 1778. [Corn- 
wall and Devonshire, Eng.] See the quota- 
tions. 
Plymouth Leat. This artificial brook is taken out of the 
river Mew, towards its source at the foot of Sheepston 
Tor in a wild mountain dell. Lent, Late, or Lake, as it is 
sometimes pronounced, is perhaps a corruption of lead or 
conductor, being applied, I believe, to any artificial chan- 
nel for conducting water. 
Marshall, Rural Economy of W. of Eng., II. 289. 
Drake is connected with the modern life of Plymouth 
by his construction of the leat, or water-course through 
which the town is still supplied from the river Meavy. 
Worth, Hist. Devonshire (Elliot Stock, 1886), p. 210. 
I have a project to bring down a leat of fair water from 
the hill-tops right into Plymouth town. 
Kingsley, Westward Ho, xiv. 
leat 2 (let), v. i. [Cf. leak.] To leak; pour. 
Halliwell. [Prov. Eng.] 
leath 1 (leth), a. A dialectal variant of lithe. 
lea.th 2 (leth), a. A dialectal variant of loath. 
leather (leTH'er), . and a. [Early mod. E. 
tether, < ME. lether, < AS. tether (only in comp.) 
= OFries. leither, leder. lider, leer = D. teder, 
leer = MLG. leder, LG. ledder, Her = OHG. 
MHG. G. leder = Icel. ledhr = Dan. fader, lair 
= S w. lader, leather ; not found native outside 
of Teut. The W. llethr, Bret, lezr, ler, are of E. 
or LG. origin.] I. n. 1. The tanned, tawed, or 
otherwise dressed skin of an animal; dressed 
hides or skins collectively. The peculiar character 
of leather is due to the chemical combination of tannin 
in the process of tanning, or of tannin and vegetable ex- 
tractive matter (or else of some mineral or earthy base), 
with gelatin as contained In animal skin; its physical 
characteristics, such as flexibility, tensile strength, color, 
and durability, are more or less modified by the processes 
subsequent to the chemi- 
cal, and included in the 
various operations of cur- 
rying and dressing. In 
commercial and popular 
usage leather does not in- 
clude skins dressed with 
the hair or fur on ; such 
skins are usually distin- 
guished by compounding 
the word skin with the 
name of the animal from 
which they are taken: as, 
sealskin, bearskin, otter- 
skin, etc. In the un- 
tanned state skins valued 
for their fur, hair, or wool, 
and destined to be tawed 
Diagram showing divisions of a 
tanned skin, a, butt ; b, b, belly ; 
c, f, cheek ; tf, neck ; e. e, e, t, shank. 
and dressed for furriers' 
and analogous uses, are 
called pelts or peltry. In 
England the term pelts is applied to all untanned skins. 
The term skin has also certain applications relating to 
leather which seem to follow no rule, but are sanctioned 
by general usage: thus, leathers made from the skins of 
kids, dogs, sheep, pigs, and calves, and in general from the 
skins of all small domestic and of many wild animals, are 
distinguished by the names of the animals : as, douskin, 
sheepskin, pigskin, calfskin, buckskin, or deerskin. Buff- 
leather is an exception to this usage. (See buffi, 2.) In 
general, leather made from skins of adult bovine domes- 
tic animals is called cowhide, and that made from skins of 
horses is called horsehide. The tanned skins of large ani- 
mals, either wild or domestic, are distinguished by the 
word hide with the name of the animal from which the 
skin was taken prefixed, except when the skin has the fur 
or hair left upon it : as, rhinoceros-hide, hippopotamus-hide, 
buffalo-hide (tanned with hair removed); leopard-skin, buf- 
falo-skin (tanned or tawed with hair or fur on). Leather 
made from the skins of alligators and aquatic animals is, 
however, generally called skin with the name of the ani- 
mal prefixed: as, alligator-skin, shark-skin, etc. (See also 
shagreen.) The outer side of the skin both before and after 
tanning is called the grain side, or simply the grain; the 
opposite side is called the flesh side. 
2. Human skin. [Ironical or ludicrous.] 
His body, active as his mind. 
Returning sound in limb and wind 
Except some leather lost behind. 
Si4ft, To the Earl of Peterborough. 
3. A round piece of tanned hide on the end of 
a fish-hook, designed to keep the bait from 
sliding up on the line. 4. The loose hanging 
part of a dog's ear. 
The ears of the dog [the Irish water-spaniel] should be 
long, and so broad in the leather that they will meet across 
the nose. Sportsman's Gazetteer, p. 425. 
Alum leather, tawed leather. American leather, a 
kind of varnished or enameled cloth prepared in imi- 
tation of leather, used for covering chairs, sofas, etc. 
Avignon leather, embossed leather, colored and gilded, 
used for wall-decoration and for covering furniture : made 
at Avignon in the seventeenth century, and in all respects 
similar to that made for the same purpose in Spain. 
Basau leather, bark-dyed sheepskin, used in making 
slippers, etc. Boiled leather. See cuir-bauiUi. Buff- 
leather. See buffi, 2. Bullock-leather. Same as cow- 
Aide. Chamois leather. See chamois, 2. Chrome- 
leather, leather in which bichromate of potassa solution 
is used as a steep, the bichromate being by reaction with 
protosulphate of iron subsequently reduced in the tissue 
to sesquioxid of chromium. Cordovan leather. Same 
as cordwain. Danish leather, leather prepared by tan- 
ning sheep-, goat-, kid-, and lamb-skins with willow-bark. 
It is strong, supple, and bright-colored, and is used chit-f- 
ly for gloves. Enameled leather, leather usually split 
and coated on one side with varnish, giving it a surface 
less lustrous than that of patent leather. Fair leather, 
3392 
leather not artificially colored. Grained leather. Same 
as grain-leather. Harness-leather.bark-tanned leather 
dressed specially for harness-making. Instead of the or- 
dinary dubbing, the hardest tallow is used for the stuffing, 
and a great deal of labor is expended upon it with the 
stockstone and slicker to produce the desired smooth 
finish on the grain side. Hogs' leather. Same as hog- 
skin. Hungarian leather, a white leather originally 
brought from Hungary, prepared by a peculiar process 
similar to tawing, after which it is softened by the ap- 
plication of oil and heat. Japanned leather. Same 
as patent leather. Kip-leather, leather made from the 
skins of half-grown cattle. Lace-leather. See whang- 
leather. Lacquered leather. Same as patent leather. 
Leather applique^ decorative work made by sewing 
pieces of kid or other thin leather of different colors on a 
surface, as of cloth, and completing the design by border- 
ings, scrolls, etc., either of cord or of embroidery-stitching. 
Leather-punching machine, a machine for punching 
leather, in which the action of both the punch and the die 
is automatic. A cam-wheel and winch actuate the die- 
stock and the punch, the cam-wheel having a spring attach- 
ment which compensates for varying thicknesses of the 
leather. The leather is fed by hand to the machine. Lea- 
ther-splitting machine, a machine for dividing leather 
into two thicknesses. See split leather. Leather-Strip- 
ing machine, a machine by which binding-leather is 
marked with stripes for shoe-binding. Leather-Strip- 
ping machine, a machine for cutting sides of leather into 
strips of uniform width, from which soles and heels are 
afterward punched. E. H. Knight. Leather-washer 
tool, cutter, or machine, a device for cutting washers 
from leather. One form resembles the ordinary carpenters' 
brace and annular bit, having two cutters adjustable in re- 
lation with the center of the bit. Leather washers are often 
cut with circular hollow punches. Morocco leather. 
See morocco. Oiled leather, leather prepared by any 
process in which oil is an important ingredient. Oil goat- 
leather, oiled goatskin. Pannonia leather. Same as 
leather-cloth, Patent leather, leather having a finely 
varnished surface, prepared from thick leather specially 
tanned for the purpose. The varnish (technically called 
sweetmeat) is applied in coats with intermediate drying in 
a steam-heated oven, and smoothing between the applica- 
tions. Linseed-oil and coloring materials, which may be 
black or white, etc., are the chief ingredients of the var- 
nish. Also japanned leather, lacquered leather. Pebble- 
grained goat-leather, goatskin grained in an irregular 
manner, as though numerous small pebbles of different 
sizes had been pressed upon its surface. Russet leather, 
(a) Leather finished except coloring and polishing. (^Lea- 
ther finished for use without artificial coloring, as that of 
which shoes are made for use in hot weather. Hence 
(c) Leather slightly colored, tinged red or yellowish-brown, 
for use in the same way. Russia leather, a fine leather 
prepared in Russia, and imitated elsewhere, by very care- 
ful willow-bark tanning, dyeing with sanders-wood, and 
soaking in birch-oil. It is of a brownish- red color, and has 
a peculiar and characteristic odor. Spanish leather, 
russet and other uncolored leather of the weight and qual- 
ity used for boots. Split leather, leather split by a ma- 
chine. Two thicknesses are thus obtained, either of which 
may be used, which are better adapted for some uses 
than the full thickness. The inner layer, of very inferior 
quality, is used for trunk-covers and similar purposes, 
and is sometimes finished and used for cheap boots and 
shoes. Occasionally, however, splitting is done only to se- 
cure an even thickness in the outer part, when the opera- 
tion is more properly called skiving. Transparent lea- 
ther, raw hide treated with alum and glycerin, and thus 
rendered more or less translucent. Twisted leather, 
oiled leather twisted from strips into a cord-like form for 
straps or bands, used with grooved pulleys and for other 
purposes. Vegetable leather, a material composed of 
india-rubber spread upon linen according to a patent pro- 
cess, very tough, and capable of being made of any thick- 
ness by additional layers of linen covered and cemented 
with the india-rubber. It is made in long rolls. Ure, Diet. 
Whang-leather, tough leather used for cutting into 
narrow strips, such as laces, crackers for whips, and small 
straps. Also called lace-leather. White leather, tawed 
leather: so called because the natural color is not darkened 
by the process, as is the case with tanned leather. 
II. a. Consisting of leather ; leathern : as, a 
leather glove. 
The nobility think scorn to go in leather aprons. 
Shak., 2 Hen. VI., iv. 2. 13. 
Leather armor, armor made of leather rendered first flex- 
ible and easily shaped and afterward hard by soaking in hot 
water, or boiling, pressing, and beating. (Compare cuir- 
bouUli.) Such armor was much used for defense in addition 
to the hauberk, greaves, arm-guards, etc., being worn over 
the link-mail. Helmets also were often made of this mate- 
rial. Leather belting, leather first shaved to an even 
thickness, and then cut into strips of definite width which 
are chamfered off and riveted and cemented together at 
the ends to form one long piece. The piece thus formed is 
prepared for market by winding it into a coil like a ribbon. 
It is used for the straps or belts of pulleys, etc., in ma- 
chinery. 
leather (leTH'er), v. [< leather, .] I. trans. 
1. To furnish with leather; apply leather to; 
form into leather; tan. 
Then, if you bring a liver not entirely leathered and 
lungs not over half consumed. 
S. Bowles, Our New West, p. 444. 
Taking a green seal skin, we put a foot on it and cut 
around it, sew up the heel, and run a string round the toe, 
which draws it up, and tie it on the instep. By walking 
it becomes leathered and soft to the foot. 
Fisheries of U. S., V. ii. 435. 
2. To beat or thrash with or as with a thong of 
leather. [Colloq.] 
If you think I could carry my point, I would so swinge 
and leather my lambkin. ' Foote, Mayor of Oarrat, i. 
I gave Spouncer a black eye, I know that's what he 
got by wanting to leather me. 
George Eliot, Mill on the Floss, p. 34. 
II. intrans. To beat ; strike. [Colloq.] 
leather-lap 
The drum was on the very brink of leathering away with 
all his power. Dickem, The Chimes, iv. 
leatherback (leTH'er-bak), n. 1. A turtle 
of the family Dermochelydidte, the Dermochelys 
i, or soft- 
Leatherback 
(Dermochtlys or Sph a rgisc oriaceu 
thcr-turtle, lyre- 
turtle, trunk-tur- 
tle, and by oth- 
er names. See 
Sphargis, 2. 
The ruddy duck. 
Erismatura rabi- 
da: so called 
from the red 
back of the male, which is of the color of tanned 
sole-leather. [Charleston. South Carolina.] 
leather-beetle (leTH'er-be"tl), . The toothed 
AeTmestid., Dermestesculfinus, which injures lea- 
ther. 
leather-board (leTH'er-bord),H. A composition 
of leather scraps and paper material, ground 
and rolled into sheets. E. H. Knight. 
leather-brown (leTH'er-broun), . See broini. 
leather-carp (leTH'er-karp), . A scaleless 
variety of me carp. 
leather-cloth (leTH'er-kloth), n. A fabric 
covered with a water-proof composition, and 
usually having a polished surface. It is common- 
ly made by applying a coat of paint or varnish, or of both, 
to one side of a piece of cloth, and is sometimes embossed 
with a grain resembling that of morocco, sometimes made 
with a high gloss like that of patent leather. Also called 
Pannonia leather. 
leather-coat (leTH'er-kot), . Anything with 
a tough coat, skin, or rind, as an apple or a po- 
tato ; specifically, the golden russet. 
There's a dish of leather-coats for you. 
Shak., 2 Hen. IV., v. 3. 44. 
leather-dicing (leTH'er-di'sing), H. Same as 
leather-dressing. E. H. Knight. 
leather-dresser (leTH'er-dres"^^, . One who 
finishes leather by coloring, polishing, and pre- 
paring for use the skins after they have been 
tanned or otherwise preserved. 
leather-dressing (leTH'er-dres"ing), H. The 
finishing operations which succeed the currying 
of leather. 
leatherette (leTH-er-ef), n. [< leather + -eHe.~\ 
Cloth or paper made to look like leather ; imi- 
tation leather. 
leather-flower (leTH'er-flou / 'er), n. A North 
American climbing plant, Clematis Viorna, with 
a large perianth of leathery purplish sepals. It 
grows wild from Pennsylvania and Ohio south- 
ward, and is often cultivated. 
leather-gouge (loTH'er-gouj),M. A tool used to 
cut channels in leather for receiving the thread 
of a line of stitches. E. H. Knight. 
leather-grinder (lei?H'er-grin'''der), . A ma- 
chine for reducing scraps of leather to shreds, 
that the material may be made into washers, 
in-soles, and shoe-heels. 
leatherhead (leTH'er-hed), . 1. A block- 
head. 2. A meliphagine bird, Philemon or 
Tropidorhynchns cornicnlatus of Australia: so 
called from the bare, skinny head : also called 
monk and friar from the same circumstance, 
and four-o'clock from its cry ; also pimlico. 
leathering (leTH'or-ing), n. [< leather + -in// 1 .] 
1. Naut., tanned or prepared leather fitted on 
spars, rigging, etc., to prevent chafing. 2. A 
thrashing; a whipping. [Colloq.] 3. Theyel- 
low perch. [Neuse river, North Carolina.] 
leather-jack (leTii'er-jak), n. A jug made of 
leather; a black-jack. 
leather-jacket (leTH'er-jak'et), n. 1. One of 
several fishes, (a) A balistoid fish, Balistes capriscus, 
having three dorsal spines, a unif orm brownish color on the 
trunk, the second dorsal and the anal fin checkered with 
interrupted longitudinal brown lines, and the caudal fin 
mottled. It occurs along the Gulf coast of the United 
States, as well as in the Mediterranean and other warm 
seas. See cut under Balistes. (b) A monacanthine balis- 
toid fish of any kind. [New South Wales; New Zealand.) 
(c) A carangoid fish, Oligoplites saitrus, having an elongated 
Bubfusiform body with narrow linear scales embedded in the 
skin at various angles, and a first dorsal fin with five spines. 
It is common in tropical seas, and wanders along the east- 
ern coast of the United States. 
2. In bot., same as hickory-eucalyptus. 
leather-knife (leTH'er-nif), . A knife of 
curved or crescent form for cutting leather, the 
edge being on the convex side, and the handle 
being attached to the middle of the concavity. 
It is one of the oldest tools known, and is much 
used in harness-making. 
leather-lap (leTH'er-lap), n. In gem-cutting, 
an ordinary polishiug-disk covered with walrus- 
