leatherneck

[ leth -er-nek ]
/ ˈlɛð ərˌnɛk /

noun Slang.

a U.S. marine.

Origin of leatherneck

First recorded in 1910–15; from the leather-lined collar which was formerly part of the uniform

Words nearby leatherneck

leatherfish, leatherhead, leatherjacket, leatherleaf, leathern, leatherneck, leatheroid, leatherwear, leatherwood, leatherwork, leathery

Example sentences from the Web for leatherneck

  • The leatherneck ran up to them, blurted out his story, gazed at them imploringly and thrust the puppies into their hands.

    The Silent Readers |William D. Lewis

  • It showed the utter unselfishness of the American doughboy, gob, and leatherneck.

    The Story of The American Legion |George Seay Wheat

British Dictionary definitions for leatherneck

leatherneck
/ (ˈlɛðəˌnɛk) /

noun

slang a member of the US Marine Corps

Word Origin for leatherneck

from the custom of facing the neckband of their uniform with leather