patent leathern.adj.

1797 J. Huie Abridgm. Statutes Relative to Revenue of Excise 139 A dozen snuff boxes, patent leather, [Libs.] 1½.

1829 Poulson's Amer. Daily Advertiser (Philadelphia) 25 Apr. 3/5 Just received, an extensive assortment of Japanned Patent Leather, of superior quality.

1852 C. Morfit Art of Tanning, Currying, & Leather-dressing (1853) 453 Glazed or Varnished Leather..known in commerce as patent leather, is very largely used for dress boots and shoes.

1918 Shoe & Leather Jrnl. 15 Feb. 49 The process of buffing the grain is merely proper for patent leathers because we restore the wearing surface, but it would not be a proper way to handle dull leathers and colored leathers.

1963 Harper's Bazaar Apr. 75 The T-strap sandal shown here in patent leather.

2000 N.Y. Times 20 Sept. a3/1 (advt.) Colorblocked patent leather and suede.

1839 Belfast Commerc. Chron. 13 Oct. 4/2 A violent stamp from a pair of ‘patent leathers’ caused the whole china service and appurtenances to vibrate on the breakfast table.

1852 Bentley's Misc. 31 592 A well-made figure..completed as good-looking a man-about-town as forty-nine in every fifty, whose patent leathers grind the pavement of St. James's.

1905 H. A. Vachell Hill ii. 29 He had to varnish Grieve's patent-leathers for Sunday.

1966 Listener 6 Jan. 23/1 One of the girls—a buxom specimen in kinky patent leathers.

a2004 E. Widmer Up from Orchard St. (2005) v. 64 The red patent leathers were too garish, the envelope shapes brought to mind a lady lawyer.

1773 Daily Advertiser 9 Aug. Patent Black Leather for Breeches and Ladies Shoes... The above Patent Leather Breeches are sold only by Mr. Gibbs, in Salisbury, Wilts.

1806 Important & Valuable Discov. Preserv. & Restoration Leather 16 A Fire Engine, fitted with Edward's Patent Leather Hoses, for the purpose of extinguishing Fire.]

1818 Times 7 Nov. 1/4 (advt.) To harness-makers.—To be sold, a capital black leather harness for a carriage, patent leather saddles, &c.

1846 A. J. H. Duganne Daguerreotype Miniature 7 A pair of patent-leather boots and a Polka hat were the extremes of his apparel.

1891 O. Wilde Picture of Dorian Gray i. 13 Lord Henry..tapped the toe of his patent-leather boot.

1955 H. Drake-Brockman Men without Wives 83 Hair much slicked, double-breasted coat, patent leather shoes.

2009 Allure Jan. 111/2 Python-and-snakeskin platforms with patent-leather trim, $1,100.

1904 ‘O. Henry’ Cabbages & Kings vi. 117 [The audience's] colour was of a diversity, running from a three-days' smoked meerschaum to a patent-leather polish.

1921 N.Y. Tribune 5 May 12/5 You sabe, these ginks with patent leather hair.

1930 L. Charteris Enter Saint 173 The Saint was as offensively sleek and Savile Row and patent-leather as a man can possibly be.

1945 Daily Mirror 27 Sept. 3/1 British-made women's shoes in ‘patent leather’ plastics may be on sale next summer.

1976 N. Botham & P. Donnelly Valentino iv. 35 Rodolpho reached up a hand to pat his patent leather hair into place.

2004 Independent 14 May (Review section) 17/2 Her brand of patent-leather dance music.