[f. SPUR sb.1 + LEATHER sb. Cr. OE. spurleþer, OHG. sporleder (G. spornleder), MDu. spore-, spoorleder, Da. sporelæder, Sw. sporrläder.]
1. A leather strap for securing a spur to the foot.
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., II. i. I could eate my very spur-lethers for anger!
1620. J. Wilkinson, Courts Leet, 124. No man except he … is worth 200l. in goods ought to weare … girdle, scabberd, or spurleathers.
1673. [R. Leigh], Transp. Reh., 122. When the rats gnaw’d his spur-leathers.
1890. ‘R. Boldrewood,’ Col. Reformer (1891), 279. From the well-brushed hat to lower spur-leather … he justified their appreciation.
2. Under spur-leather, a subordinate, an attendant, a menial. Now arch.
1685. in Ellis, Orig. Lett., Ser. II. IV. 83. The whole discourse both in the City, and amongst the under-spurt-leathers of the Court, is that Hambden is to die on Friday.
1707. J. Stevens, trans. Quevedo’s Com. Wks., II. x. In came a parcel of strapping Scoundrels to wait at Table, whom the topping Bullies call Under-spurleathers.
1717. Dennis, Rem. on Pope’s Homer, P.’s Wks. 1751, V. 112. A notorious idiot,… who from an underspur-leather to the law is become an under-strapper to the playhouse.
1816. Scott, Bl. Dwarf, xii. I have opened house, not only for the gentry, but for the under spur-leathers whom we must necessarily employ.
1886. Athenæum, 4 Sept., 300/1. It was an imitation of Swift’s … manner by one of his ‘under spur-leathers.’
