horsehide: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialised / Archaic / Historical / Informal
Quick answer
What does “horsehide” mean?
The hide or leather made from the skin of a horse.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The hide or leather made from the skin of a horse.
1. A baseball (informal, dated, due to historical use of horsehide in baseball covers). 2. A slang term for a baseball glove (archaic).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both understand the leather meaning. The baseball sense is almost exclusively American due to the sport's history.
Connotations
In the UK, it's purely a material. In the US, it can evoke nostalgic or historical baseball imagery.
Frequency
Rare in both, but slightly more likely to be encountered in historical American sports writing.
Grammar
How to Use “horsehide” in a Sentence
[made of/from] horsehide[Noun] [constructed/crafted] from horsehideVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “horsehide” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The vintage motorcycle seat was covered in horsehide leather.
- He prefers a horsehide wallet for its unique grain.
American English
- The antique baseball was a genuine horsehide model.
- A horsehide glove was standard equipment in the early leagues.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In niche leather goods or historical artifact trades.
Academic
Historical or material culture studies.
Everyday
Virtually never used in modern everyday conversation.
Technical
Leatherworking, tannery industry, sports equipment history.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “horsehide”
- Using 'horsehide' to refer to modern baseballs (they are cowhide). Using it as a general synonym for 'leather'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Since 1974, official Major League Baseballs have been made with cowhide covers. 'Horsehide' in a baseball context is a historical term.
It is known for being very tough, durable, and having a distinctive grain pattern. It is less common than cowhide.
Not precisely. 'Horsehide' typically implies the skin has been tanned and processed into leather. The untanned skin is usually called a 'hide' or 'pelt'.
No, it is a low-frequency, specialised term. Most English speakers will understand it in context but will rarely use it.
The hide or leather made from the skin of a horse.
Horsehide is usually specialised / archaic / historical / informal in register.
Horsehide: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhɔːshaɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhɔːrshaɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[not a common idiom, but can be used in historical phrases like] 'the crack of the horsehide' (referring to a bat hitting a baseball).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HORSE's HIDE (skin) being tanned into tough leather.
Conceptual Metaphor
MATERIAL FOR THE OBJECT (Horsehide for a baseball).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'horsehide' most accurately used today?