Etymology

leatherman

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Today it means: A member of a homosexual male subculture that grew out of male-only motorcycle clubs formed by homosexual veterans returning from World War II, stressing masculinity in contradiction to androgynous and effeminate gay stereotypes, characterized by a fetish for leather gear and clothing, a sense of hierarchy, and a fraternal, militaristic code of protocol and behavior, often involving BDSM practices. Full definition →

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leatherman · noun1

From leather + man. In the gay subculture sense, since the mid-twentieth century. In the leather dealer sense, since centuries earlier; archaic today.

leatherman · noun2

From the name of the manufacturer, Leatherman Tool Group, named after Timothy Leatherman.

Leatherman · proper noun3

Occupational surname from leatherman.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.