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Glite Dictionary
leathern

leathern

7.4
Made from animal skin treated to be thick and smooth
  • adjective
  • /ˈlɛðərn/
  • Archaic
translation icon : de cuero
  • A leathern strap held the shield securely to the warrior's arm.

Examples

  • The old book was bound in a leathern cover that had faded over time.

  • He carried his tools in a sturdy leathern pouch at his side.

  • That leathern jacket looks great!

  • The leathern bag was very durable.

  • The artisan crafted a beautiful bag from leathern material that was both durable and stylish.

  • She wore a leathern jacket that gave her a rugged appearance as she rode her motorcycle.

  • The furniture in the living room was made of leathern fabric, giving it an elegant and classic look.

Synonyms

leathery
vsleathern
12 3.9

Feels tough but flexible like animal skin

is often used for the actual material itself as well as the look
pleather
vsleathern
  • Informal
1 5.0

Made from man-made material that looks like leather

can refer to genuine material or its visual resemblance, not only synthetics
leathered
vsleathern
1 5.7

Having a smooth, tough surface like the skin used for bags or jackets

can mean made from the material itself, not only its appearance
leatherlike
vsleathern
5.1

Having a tough, smooth, flexible feel like animal skin used for bags and jackets

is broader, also referring to items actually made from the material
nubuck
vsleathern
  • Specialized
8.0

Made from soft leather that has a velvety surface

is a general term covering many textures, not only velvety finishes
sueded
vsleathern
5.3

A soft, velvet-like surface that feels slightly fuzzy to the touch

emphasizes general appearance or material rather than only the finish

How Leather-like

leathern
  • Archaic
7.4
sueded
5.3

Surface Forms

leathern positive

Morphology

leathern = leather (transparent) = leather + en

The adjective is formed regularly from the noun 'leather' with the productive suffix '-en' meaning 'made of'.

Etymology

The word leathern comes from the common word leather plus the old ending -en, so it means 'made of leather' or 'like leather'. Think of it like wooden from wood: a leathern pouch is simply a pouch made of leather.