LEATHER GLOSSARY

Corrected Grain Leather
Leather from which the grain layer has been
partially removed by buffing to a depth
governed by the condition of the raw material
and upon which a new surface has been built
by various finishes.
Cow Hide
Hide from a mature female bovine that has
produced a calf.
Crock (noun)
The coloring matter that rubs off of poorly
dyed leather.
Crock (verb)
To transfer color of rubbing.
Crockproof
Leather, suede or fabric that has been treated
to prevent color from rubbing off. With suede,
this term means to treat to prevent shedding
or rubbing off of fibers.
Crust
Leather which has been tanned but not finished.
Such leathers referred to as being in the crust.
Drum Dying
The application of dye stuffs to leather by
the immersion of the leather in a drum that
is tumbled. This process allows full dye
penetration into the fiber.
Embossed Leather
Usually corrected grain, in which a pattern
is applied by extreme pressure in a press to
give a unique design or imitation of full grain
characteristics. Sometimes leathers are
embossed to make them appear to be another
leather, such as embossing an alligator pattern
into a cowhide.
Enhanced Grain
Leather that is lightly buffed to improve the
surface and embossed to simulate an attractive
grain or to add decorative texture.
Fat Wrinkle
Wrinkles in the grain of leather caused by fat
deposits in the animal that create beauty in the
leather. Fat wrinkles are not visible in imitation
grain leather.
Finish
A surface application on the leather to
color, protect, or mask imperfections. More
specifically, all processes administered to
leather after it has been tanned.
Finishing
Any further steps taken after the dying
treatment such as rolling, pigmented spraying,
laquering, antiquing, tipping, waxing, buffing,
embossing, glazing, waterproofing or flame
proofing in order to provide more abrasion and
stain resistance and/or a more even surface
coloration.
Full Grain
The term used for the outside original skin
or hide which has had the hair removed, but
otherwise has not been corrected or altered.
Full grain leather possesses the genuine original
grain of the animal.
Full Hand
Leather which is full-bodied, such as some
combination tanned leathers and fine vegetable-
tanned upholstery leather. Also called round
hand.
Glazed Finish
Similar to an aniline finish except that the
leather surface is polished to a high luster by
the action of glass on the steel rollers under
tremendous pressure.
Grain (Leather)
The outside of the hide or skin consisting of the
pores, wrinkles and other characteristics which
constitute the organic texture of the leather.
Grain Character
The natural markings on the surface of the leather.
Grain Embossed
An artificial grain pressed into the surface of the
top grain leather from which the original grain
has been removed.
Grain Split
The outer (wool or hair) layer of a hide or skin
that has been split into two or more layers.
Grained Leather
Any leather on which the original natural grain
has been changed or altered by any method,
process or manipulation; also top grain.
Hand
A term used in the leather industry to describe the
feel, i.e., softness or fullness of upholstery leather.
Hand Rubbing
Tone-on-tone effect created by blending colors.
Used to add depth and character to leather.
Heifer
A female bovine, under three years of age, that
has not produced a calf.
Hide
(1) The outer covering of a mature or fully grown
large mammal, e.g. cattle, horse, camel and
elephant.
(2) Leather made from (1) which has not
been sp l i t , or f rom the g rain sp lit of such
hide; when used in this way the name of the
animal e.g. cowhide or oxhide or the type of
leather, e.g. bag hide or case hide may be added.
Leather
An animal skin which has been preserved and
dressed for use.
Liming
This process includes removal of the hair,
preparing the hides for the tanning process.
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