Leatherneck

Leatherneck is a military slang term for a member of the United States Marine Corps, or of the Corps of Royal Marines.[1] It is generally believed to originate in the wearing of a leather "stock" or collar around the neck, which kept the posture erect.

For other uses, see Leatherneck (disambiguation).
Circa 1817, First Lieutenant Charles Rumsey Broom, USMC, sports the high collar that gave rise to this moniker.

History

The term "leatherneck" was derived from a leather stock once worn around the neck by both American and British Marines and soldiers. In the United States, beginning in 1798, "one stock of black leather and clasp" was issued to each Marine every year.[2] Its use as a synecdoche for Marines began as a term of ridicule by sailors.[3]

The dress blue uniform of the US Marines still bears a tribute to that stock collar today, with its stiff cloth collar.[4]

Leather neck collar

This stiff leather collar, fastened by two buckles at the back, measured between 2.5 and more than 3 inches tall in front, tapering toward the back.[5][6] The origin of the leather neck collar, also known as a "stock", has to do with early 19th-century military fashion trends in Europe and North America; its use among enlisted men supposedly improved their military bearing and appearance by forcing the chin high and posture straight.[7]

The stock was uncomfortable, but Marines would be punished for failure to wear them on duty, so some would have the stock stitched to their coats to ensure it was always on their uniform.[5] General George F. Elliott, recalling its use after the American Civil War, said the "effect of the stock when buckled around a man's neck was to hold his head high in the air, like geese looking for rain".[8]

The stock was dropped as an article of American Marine uniform in 1872, after surviving through the uniform changes of 1833, 1839, and 1859.[9]

As protection

While the stock is understood to have been worn only for posture, legend tells that it was worn to protect the neck from sword cuts,[10] such as cutlass slashes while boarding ships.[11] The leather stock was adopted three years prior to the Barbary War in which United States Marines first fought North African troops armed with scimitars. This is disputed as leather is not considered adequate protection against a striking object. (Source?) On Royal Naval vessels of the 18th & 19th Century,Royal Marines acted as the Ships guard. Additionally, as Marksmen firing from th rigging during sea engagements,shore detachments, landing parties, etc. Commanded by a Marine officer,and their own NCO's; these Men were a sub-group within the Ships company, and not part of the crew. This was a deliberate segregation, as Marines were responsible for safeguarding supplies, firearms, and Naval Officers.. from their crew. Most British sailors of the era were press-ganged into service, whereas a Marine enlisted. Trusted by the Navy command, disliked by the Sailors as the guardians of Authority. A thick, stiff leather collar provided protection for a Marine Sentry from having their throat cut by mutineers. Hence the derogatory term used by Sailors to describe a Marine: leatherneck.

Alternative etymology for Royal Marines

While the American Marine Corps nickname "leatherneck" is generally attributed to the wear of the leather stock, some argue that the use of the term for British Royal Marines is not based on that garment, but instead on the tough and "leathery" nature of a weathered and unwashed neck, noting that "bootneck" is also a British slang term for a marine.[12]

See also

References
  1. Gordon L Rottman (1 January 2012). FUBAR F***ed Up Beyond All Recognition: Soldier Slang of World War II. Osprey Publishing. pp. 137–. ISBN 978-1-84908-653-0.
  2. "Legends of the Marine Corps". Marine Corps Historical Reference Series. USMCHangout.com. 1963. Retrieved 2014-06-22.
  3. Lighter, Jonathan (June 20, 2014). "How World War I gave us 'cooties'". CNN. Retrieved 2014-06-22. 'Leatherneck,' ... denoted the U.S. Marine, whose 19th-century uniform had featured a high leather collar that sailors ridiculed.
  4. "Lore of the Corps". National Museum of the Marine Corps. Archived from the original on 2012-09-18. Retrieved 2014-06-22. This leather collar served to protect the neck against cutlass slashes and to hold the head erect in proper military bearing. Sailors serving aboard ship with Marines came to call them 'leathernecks.' Use of the leather stock was retained until after the Civil War when it was replaced by a strip of black glazed leather attached to the inside front of the dress uniform collar. The last vestiges of the leather stock can be seen in today’s modern dress uniform, which features a stiff cloth tab behind the front of the collar. The term 'leatherneck' transcended the actual use of the leather stock and became a common nickname for United States Marines.
  5. Robert H. Rankin (1970). Uniforms of the Marines. Putnam. p. 26.
  6. Lawrence F. Lowery (2007). The Golden Age of Big Little Books. Educational Research and Applications LLC. p. 155. ISBN 978-0-9762724-8-9.
  7. Our Navy, the Standard Publication of the U.S. Navy. 1918. pp. 2–.
  8. The Leatherneck. Leatherneck Association. 1953. p. 32.
  9. USMC uniforms during the Civil War. Marine Corps Association
  10. Edward F. Dolan (1 September 2009). Careers in the U.S. Marine Corps. Marshall Cavendish. pp. 23–. ISBN 978-0-7614-4637-8.
  11. Richard S. Lowry (2006). US Marine in Iraq: Operation Iraqi Freedom, 2003. Osprey Publishing. pp. 63–. ISBN 978-1-84176-982-0.
  12. Scott Keller (2004). Marine Pride: A Salute to America's Elite Fighting Force. Kensington Publishing Corporation. pp. 23–. ISBN 978-0-8065-2603-4.
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