The skin or leather of a cow, used to make leather products like belts, jackets, and whips; also used as a verb meaning to whip.
From cow + hide (animal skin). Both elements are Old English: cow from Old English cu, and hide from Old English hyd. Simple compound with ancient roots.
Cowhide leather is remarkably strong—cowboys' cowhide saddles sometimes outlasted their owners by decades, and a good cowhide whip could last a lifetime of use.
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