Noun
Leather that is used to make shoes.
Leather from which shoes are made that is worn out through walking.
The sweat of one's brow; effort; investigatory effort.
Tough meat, especially cheap meat.
Adjective
Basic, old-fashioned or traditional; specifically shoe-leather journalism or shoe-leather reporting: journalism involving walking from place to place observing things and speaking to people, rather than sitting indoors at a desk.