Definition

Noun: 1. Untanned hide, especially from cattle: The untanned, raw skin of an animal, typically a cow or steer, that has been stripped of hair and flesh but not processed with tannins. It is a stiff, durable material. 2. A whip or rope made from this material: An object, such as a whip, lash, or cord, crafted from strips of this untanned leather.

Usage and Examples

• The traditional lariat was often made from sturdy rawhide.
• Before modern tanning, many tools and bindings were fashioned from rawhide.
• The craftsman cut the rawhide into thin strips to braid a new whip.

Advanced Usage

• "Rawhide" as a descriptor: Used attributively to describe objects made from this material (e.g., a rawhide whip, rawhide lace). This is its most common modern usage.
• Cultural/Historical Context: Rawhide was a crucial material in pre-industrial societies for creating durable items like drum heads, shields, snowshoe webbing, and binding for tools and weapons due to its strength and ability to shrink and tighten as it dries.

Variants and Related Words

• Rawhide (verb): To whip or beat with a rawhide lash. (This usage is rare and archaic).
• Rawhiding (noun/gerund): The act of whipping with a rawhide.
• Hide: The general term for an animal's skin, whether raw, tanned, or processed.
• Leather: The general term for tanned animal hide, which is softer and more pliable than rawhide.

Synonyms

• Untanned hide
• Raw leather
• (For a whip) Lash, scourge

Related Phrases and Idioms

• Chew the rawhide: A colloquial or historical phrase suggesting a difficult, tough, or unpleasant task, analogous to the toughness of the material. (Note: This is not a standard idiom but a logical extension of the word's meaning).
• Tough as rawhide: An informal simile describing someone or something as very strong, resilient, or durable.

Noun

1. untanned hide especially of cattle; cut in strips it is used for whips and ropes