leatherneck
American slang for a US Marine, and one of the most enduring military nicknames in the language.
Definitions
American slang for a US Marine, and one of the most enduring military nicknames in the language. The term dates back to the leather stock collar Marines once wore around their necks — either to enforce upright posture or protect against sword slashes, depending on who you ask. Today 'leatherneck' is worn as a badge of pride by Marines themselves.
My uncle was a leatherneck for twenty years — he never really stopped being one.
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(slang) A soldier.
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(US) Specifically, a marine.
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