noun
Uncommon
tanner
TAN
Tanner (noun) means someone whose trade is turning animal hides into leather. Example: “The tanner's workshop smelled strongly of the chemicals used to cure the hides.”
noun
1
Someone whose trade is turning animal hides into leather.
"The tanner's workshop smelled strongly of the chemicals used to cure the hides."
2
An old British coin worth six pence.
"They'd say hello, maybe slip you a tanner."
— Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic (2022)
"His grandfather remembered paying a tanner for a pint before decimalisation."
How to use tanner
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA leather-worker by trade, or, historically, British slang for a sixpence coin.
When to use it
The coin sense is dated British slang, rarely used since decimalisation in 1971.
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Word forms
- Plural
- tanners
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____'s workshop smelled strongly of the chemicals used to cure the hides.
Etymology
From Old English tannere, built on the verb tan plus the agent suffix -er.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for tanner
See all rhymes for tanner →Frequently asked questions
What does “tanner” mean?
The word “tanner” means someone whose trade is turning animal hides into leather. In plain terms, a leather-worker by trade, or, historically, British slang for a sixpence coin.
How do you pronounce “tanner”?
“Tanner” is pronounced TAN (/ˈtænɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “tanner” in a sentence?
Here is “tanner” used in a sentence: “The tanner's workshop smelled strongly of the chemicals used to cure the hides.”
What part of speech is “tanner”?
“Tanner” is a noun.
Where does the word “tanner” come from?
The word “tanner” comes from Old English. From Old English tannere, built on the verb tan plus the agent suffix -er.
Is “tanner” a common word?
“Tanner” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “tanner” have?
“Tanner” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone whose trade is turning animal hides into leather.
What does a tanner do for work?
A tanner is someone whose trade is turning animal hides into leather, a process historically known as tanning. This occupational sense of tanner refers specifically to leatherworking, distinct from other meanings of the word.
What is a tanner in old British currency?
A tanner was an informal term for an old British coin worth six pence, used before the United Kingdom decimalized its currency. This sense is historical and no longer in everyday circulation.
Is tanner still used to mean six pence today?
No, tanner as a term for a six pence coin is largely historical, since the coin itself was phased out after decimalization of British currency. The word survives mainly in historical or nostalgic references rather than modern usage.
