leather
Preserved but no longer current.
To beat or thrash. Probably from allusion to the skin, which is often called LEATHER. Some think the term is from the LEATHER belts worn by soldiers, which are often used as weapons in street rows. Most likely from there being "nothing like LEATHER" with which to administer a thrashing.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “leather” mean?
To beat or thrash. Probably from allusion to the skin, which is often called LEATHER. Some think the term is from the LEATHER belts worn by soldiers, which are often used as weapons in street rows. Most likely from there being "nothing like LEATHER" with which to administer a thrashing.
Is “leather” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.