Scottish National Dictionary (1700–)
Hide Quotations Hide Etymology
About this entry:
First published 1952 (SND Vol. III).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.
†EAR-LEATHER, n. comb. The back or bellyband of a horse's harness, the leather belt passing over the loins. Also called the “eir strap or neir-strap because it passes over the region of the kidneys” (Sc. 1887 Jam.6).Kcb.4 1900:
A horse that does not pull its weight is said to “hing mair to the britchin' than to the ear-leathers”.
Hence comb. ear-leather-pin, “an iron pin formerly used instead of a hook, on each end of the shaft of a cart, for fastening the chain by which the horse draws” (Fif. 1808 Jam.).
[O.Sc. er-leddir, 1496, eirleder, 1515, ear-lether, 1693, id. Ear is from O.Sc. nere, Mid.Eng. nēre, O.N. nȳra, kidney, the n being lost by wrong division after the article; see Near, n.]
