The word "leathery" is spelled with the sound /ɛ/ (like in the word "met") followed by the sound /ð/ (like in the word "this"), and then the sound /ɹi/ (like in the word "rear"). The final syllable is spelled with the sound /i/ (like in the word "see"). The word refers to something that is tough, durable, or hard to chew, like a piece of beef jerky or a pair of worn-leather boots. Its spelling and pronunciation are both fairly straightforward and easy to remember.
Leathery is an adjective used to describe something that has the texture, appearance, or qualities of leather. It refers to an item or material that is tough, flexible, and durable, similar to the characteristics of animal hide after undergoing tanning or other processes to create leather.
When describing an object as leathery, it typically implies that it is firm, but with a supple feel to it. This can apply to various things, such as certain types of plants, fruits, or vegetables that possess a tough outer skin, like a leather hide. Leathery can also describe the texture of certain food items, such as meat or fish, which have a tougher, fibrous consistency and require extended cooking times to become tender.
Additionally, leathery may be used to describe the physical characteristics of human skin as it ages or experiences prolonged exposure to the sun, resulting in a dry, tough, and sometimes wrinkled appearance. It can also be used to describe the texture of some reptiles' skin, like snakes or lizards, which is tough, scaly, and reminiscent of leather.
Overall, the term leathery is associated with the idea of toughness, durability, and flexibility, and is commonly used to describe objects or materials that possess similar qualities to genuine leather.
Resembling leather: tough.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "leathery" is derived from the noun "leather".
The term "leather" has its origins in the Old English word "lether", which is a variant of the Old English word "leþer". These Old English words are ultimately derived from the Proto-Germanic word "*lethra".
The Proto-Germanic word is believed to have originated from the Proto-Indo-European root "*letrom", meaning "skin", "hide", or "leather".
Therefore, "leathery" is formed by adding the adjectival suffix "-y" to "leather", reflecting its resemblance to the texture or appearance of leather.