leatherneck

English

Etymology

From leather +‎ neck.

Pronunciation

• (UK, General Australian) IPA^(key): /ˈlɛð.ə.nɛk/

  • Audio (AU)

    (file)

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈlɛð.ɚ.nɛk/

Noun

leatherneck (plural leathernecks)

1. (slang) A soldier.
2. (US) Specifically, a marine.
   • 2011, Steven Pinker, The Better Angels of Our Nature, Penguin, published 2012, page 318:

     The Marine Corps has instituted a martial-arts program in which leathernecks are indoctrinated in a new code of honor, the Ethical Marine Warrior.