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Definition of rawhide

rawhide

/ˈrɑːˌhaɪd/
raw · hide
Plural:rawhides
•
Adjective:rawhide
•
Past Simple:rawhided
•
Past Participle:rawhided
•
Present Participle:rawhiding
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rawhide Lexical Profile

rawhide Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Stiff, untanned animal skin, especially that of cattle, used for making whips, drumheads, lariats, and chew toys for dogs.

Example

"The craftsman stretched a sheet of damp rawhide tightly across the wooden frame of the drum."

2

A whip or rope made of untanned animal hide.

Example

"The rancher coiled the braided rawhide and hung it over the saddle horn."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for rawhide

• verb

1

To beat or drive with a whip made of untanned leather, or figuratively to drive someone or something harshly.

Example

"The veteran trail boss knew better than to rawhide the cattle during the hottest part of the afternoon."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for rawhide

• Nearby Words

ravishingly
raw
rawalpindi
rawhide
rawness
rax
ray

Word Origin & Etymology

First recorded in the late 16th century as a transparent English compound combining 'raw' (untreated) and 'hide' (animal skin).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Rawhide. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/rawhide
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