whitleather

From whit(e) +‎ leather.

whitleather (uncountable)

1. A soft, pale leather prepared by tawing with alum and salt.
   • 1573, Thomas Tusser, “Five Hundreth Pointes of Good Husbandrie”, in William Mavor, editor, Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry, published 1812, page 10:

     A buttrice,^[hoof-parer] and pincers, a hammer and nail,
     And apron, and scissars for head and for tail,
     Whole bridle and saddle, whitleather, and nall,
     With collars and harness, for thiller and all.

   • 1783, Francis Clater, Every Man His Own Farrier, 6th edition, published 1793, page 86:

     Wounds that require ſtitching, muſt be done with a fine ſhred of whitleather, which is much better than either ſilk or thread; the former will not cut the fleſh and ſkin, as the latter does.

   • 1836, "the author of The Book of the Seasons", Days at My Grandfather’s, Mrs. Alaric Watts (editor), The New Year's Gift and Juvenile Souvenir, page 83,

     So to keep him out there was a loop of whitleather fastened to the latch, which when hung on the catch let the door stand open about three inches.

• tough as whitleather

• therewithal