[Ads-l] antedating of U.S. "leatherneck"

[dave@wilton.net]

I found one from 18 January 1871 used in reference to US marines: [ https://www.wordorigins.org/big-list-entries/leatherneck ]( https://www.wordorigins.org/big-list-entries/leatherneck ) 
 
“D. D. Porter’s Fancy Navy.” The Sun (New York), 18 January 1871, 3. Library of Congress, Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.
 
“'Him? Oh, he’s only a leather neck. Nobody ever expects anything from leather-necks, so we don’t mind insults from them.'
 
"THE LEATHER-NECK.
 
"The reporter looked at Mr. Howard inquiringly.
“'Don’t suppose you know what leather necks is, do you? Well, them’s poor marines. You see, them fellers ain’t any more use aboard of a ship nor a pump is in a graveyard. They’re the laziest people in the world, marines is, and all their officers thinks about is wearin’ fine clothes and a flirtin round with petticoats. Now that feller there that you got so mad at, he’s a capt’n, and his pay haint over much, but yet you seen how he was rigged out. Now, I wouldn’t be afraid to bet that that feller didn’t have a quarter in his pocket, although he did walk by us like old Astor or old Vanderbilt might have done. It’s all too-hamper with them marines. They don’t draw any water.'
 
“'Why do you call them leather necks?' inquired the reporter.
 
“'Oh, you know they wear them leather stocks to keep their heads up straight.'”
 
 
-----Original Message-----
From: "Jonathan Lighter" <00001aad181a2549-dmarc-request at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
Sent: Friday, September 26, 2025 9:39am
To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
Subject: Re: [ADS-L] antedating of U.S. "leatherneck"



Here it is unequivocally an army soldier. I suspect the word was
originally applied indifferently to both soldiers and marines, but, at
least in the U.S., was eventually narrowed to marines alone.

1872 _S. F. Chronicle_ (Aug. 22) 3 [Newspapers.com]: When the soldiers came
up the ambushed Indians fired. What did my leather necks do but cut for
camp like the devil.

JL

On Thu, Apr 26, 2018 at 9:39 AM Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at gmail.com>
wrote:

> Thanks, Fred! In fact, there's even a confirmation of the etymology. And
> these are indeed U.S., not Royal, Marines.
>
> JL
>
> On Thu, Apr 26, 2018 at 7:02 AM, Shapiro, Fred <fred.shapiro at yale.edu>
> wrote:
>
>> Newspapers.com has an earlier occurrence of "leatherneck" meaning
>> "marine" in New York Sun, Jan. 18, 1871, page 3.
>>
>>
>> Fred Shapiro
>>
>>
>>
>> ________________________________
>> From: American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU> on behalf of
>> Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM>
>> Sent: Wednesday, April 25, 2018 10:21 PM
>> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
>> Subject: antedating of U.S. "leatherneck"
>>
>> Way early:
>>
>> 1891 _Manhattan [Kans.] Mercury_ (Oct. 7) 3 [Newspapers.com]: UNITED
>> STATES MARINE. Jolly Jack Has Contempt for the Sea Soldier. ...
>> Next to Marryat, Dickens appeals most to the sympathies of the
>> "leather-necks," as the shell-backs call them. ..."They kin do 'most
>> anything with a gun, 'cept shoot with it," [said one sailor].
>>
>>
>>
>> JL
>>
>> --
>> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the
>> truth."
>>
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>
>
>
> --
> "If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."
>


-- 
"If the truth is half as bad as I think it is, you can't handle the truth."

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