Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary - leather

 I. noun  Etymology: Middle English lether, from Old English lether-; akin to Old High German leder ~, Old Irish lethar  Date: 13th century  1. animal skin dressed for use  2. the flap of the ear of a dog — see dog illustration  3. something wholly or partly made of ~  • ~ adjective  • ~like adjective  II. transitive verb  (~ed; ~ing)  Date: 13th century  1. to cover with ~  2. to beat with a strap ; thrash