whitleather
(ˈhwɪtˌlɛðə(r))
Forms: 4 witleȝtr', 5 whittlether, 5–7 whit(-)lether, 7–9 whit-leather, 6– whitleather.
[white a. 2 (with normal shortening in comb.) and leather n. For illustration of white leather see 1 β.]
1. a. Leather of a white or light colour and soft pliant consistence, prepared by tawing, i.e. dressing with alum and salt, so as to retain the natural colour. Also attrib.
| 1366–7 Priory of Finchale (Surtees) p. lxxii, Cum ferrura, cingulis, capestris, witleȝtr', scutels [etc.]. 1487–8 Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 417 Pro whitlether pro lez bawdrikez, vj d. 1573–80 Tusser Husb. (1878) 36 Hole bridle and saddle, whit lether and nall. 1623 tr. Favine's Theat. Hon. i. vi. 58 A large strong thong or strap of whit-leather. 1784 Twamley Dairying Exempl. 40, I have seen one part of a Skin of a well coloured sound nature, another Part that had somewhat the look of rough Parchment, or hard Whit⁓leather. 1877 N.W. Linc. Gloss., Whitleather, sheep's-skins, prepared for thongs of flails, repairing harness, &c. Formerly used for baldricks of church-bells. 1960 G. E. Evans Horse in Furrow xvii. 213 Sidney Austin, the harness-maker, still uses strips of whitleather to repair..the collars of farm-horses. |
| β c 1440, 1519 [see leather n. 1]. 1500 Louth Church Acc. in N.W. Linc. Gloss. (1889) s.v., For j horskyn & di. skyn whiett ledder. 1556 Churchw. Acc. Minchinhampton in Archaeologia (1853) XXXV. 423 For wyet lether, and makyng off bawryxes, xviij d. 1565 Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Bos., Bubuli cortabi,..thonges of white leather. 1885 A. Watt Leather Manuf. 39 When tawed, or prepared with alum and salt, they [sc. sheepskins] form what is termed white leather. |
| attrib. and Comb. ? a 1600 MS. Lansd. 241 (Halliw.) Thy gerdill made of the whittlether whange. 1635 J. Gower Pyrgomachia C 3, Then from thy flesh I'le draw thy hide, And have it throughly tann'd, and dry'd Whit-lether-like. 1854 A. E. Baker Northampt. Gloss., Whit-leather thongs. |
b. In comparisons, or as a type of toughness, elasticity, softness, etc.; hence
fig. Also
attrib.| 1605 Breton I pray you be not angrie B 4, I am thus handled..with this wicked olde peece of Whit-leather. 1610 Beaum. & Fl. Scornf. Lady v. i, Hast thou so much moisture in the Whitleather hide yet, that thou canst cry? 1622 Massinger & Dekker Virg. Mart. iv. ii. 1 2, The guts of my conscience beginne to be of whit-leather. 1697 Vanbrugh Relapse v. iii, Nurse. I'll soon bring his Nose to the Grind-stone. C[oupler] aside. Well said, old White-leather! a 1713 T. Ellwood Hist. Life (1714) 316 My Sides are not of Iron, neither Are my Lungs made of Whit-leather. 1830 James Darnley v, Pray God to make all your bones as soft as whit-leather. 1839 Mrs. Kirkland New Home xxxiv. 225 Her eyes grew preternaturally pale, and her lips wan as whit-leather. 1913 D. H. Lawrence Love Poems & Others 44 A widow o forty-five As has sludged like a horse all her life, Till 'er's tough as whit-leather. |
2. The tough ligament in the neck of an ox or other grazing animal, also called
paxwax.
| 1713 Derham Phys.-Theol. vi. iii. 362 That..Ligament—Called the Whitleather, Packwax, Taxwax, and Fixfax. |