leatherman en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
From leather + man. In the gay subculture sense, since the mid-twentieth century. In the leather dealer sense, since centuries earlier; archaic today.
Meanings
- 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.
- (archaic) A male leather dealer, leatherworker, or tanner.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| leathermen | Number=Plur | lexicographic |