subs. (American thieves’).—1. A pocket book. For synonyms, see READER.
1859. G. W. MATSELL, Vocabulum; or, The Rogue’s Lexicon, s.v. LEATHER. ‘The bloke lost his LEATHER,’ the man lost his pocketbook.
1881. New York Slang Dictionary, ‘On the Trail.’ We touched his LEATHER too, but it was very lathy.
1883. S. L. CLEMENS (‘Mark Twain’), Life on the Mississippi, p. 459. When we got to Chicago on the cars from there to here, i PULLED OFF an old woman’s LEATHER,: i hadn’t no more than got it off when i wished i hadn’t donn it, for awhile before that i made up my mind to be a square bloke.
2. (venery).—The female pudendum. Hence, TO LABOUR LEATHER (old) = to copulate; LEATHER-STRETCHER = the penis: cf. KID-LEATHER; and NOTHING LIKE LEATHER (q.v.). For synonyms, see MONOSYLLABLE.
1540. LYNDSAY, Ane Pleasant Satyre of the Thrie Estaitis [LAING (1879), ii. 72. 1331].
| For, it is half ane yeir almaist, | |
| Sen ever that loun laborde my LEDDER. |
1678. COTTON, Virgil Travestie, in Works (1725), Bk. iv. p. 74.
| At that Queen Juno smil’d and said, | |
| Of that (Wench) never be afraid, | |
| For if they once do come together, | |
| He’ll find that Dido’s reaching LEATHER. |
d. 1796. BURNS, Court of Equity.
| Hunter, a willing, hearty brither, | |
| Weel skilled in dead and living LEATHER. |
3. In pl. (common).—The ears; LUGS (q.v.). For synonyms, see HEARING CHEATS.
4. (sporting).—A cricket-, or foot-ball. TO HUNT LEATHER (cricket) = to field. LEATHER-HUNTING (subs.) fielding.
1883. Graphic, 11 Aug., p. 138, col. 1. The giants of the past who bandied so efficiently the ‘willow’ and the LEATHER.
1884. Daily News, 12 April, p. 5, col. 2. A man has Morley’s genius with the LEATHER, combined with Morley’s deficiencies as a fielder and bat.
1886. G. SUTHERLAND, Australia, p. 178. In most parts of Australia cricket can be played with tolerable comfort all the year round. Occasionally, in summer, there are days when the heat is unusually oppressive, and the pastime of LEATHER HUNTING becomes somewhat tiresome.
1890. Palace Journal, 4 Aug. Our fellows were kept LEATHER-HUNTING pretty well the whole innings.
1763. FOOTE, The Mayor of Garratt, i. Sneak. Now, if you think I could carry my point, I would so swinge and LEATHER my lambkin!
1785. GROSE, A Classical Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, s.v. To LEATHER also means to beat, perhaps originally with a strap. I’ll LEATHER you to your heart’s content.
1858. G. ELIOT, Janet’s Repentance, ch. xxi. ‘He’ll want to be LEATHERIN’ us, I shouldn’t wonder. He must hev somethin’ t’ ill-use when he’s in a passion.’
1892. G. M. FENN, The New Mistress, xxii. Please, teacher, mother LEATHERS the boys if they don’t get home in time for dinner.
1892. T. A. GUTHRIE (‘F. Anstey’), Voces Populi, ‘The Travelling Menagerie,’ p. 61. Bain’t she a LEATHERIN’ of ’un too!
TO GO TO LEATHER, verb. phr. (American).—See quot.
1888. Ranch Life in the Far West. After a few jumps, however, the average man grasps hold of the horn of the saddle—the delightful onlookers meanwhile earnestly advising him not TO GO TO LEATHER—and is contented to get through the affair in any shape, provided he can escape without being thrown off.
TO LOSE LEATHER, verb. phr. (colloquial).—To be saddle-galled.—GROSE (1785).
LEATHERS, subs. (common).—A postboy.
1849. THACKERAY, Pendennis, ch. xx. ‘Come along; jump in, old boy—go it, LEATHERS!’ and in this way Pen found himself in Mr. Spavin’s postchaise.
