Glossary of Terms

A machine used to test the flexing endurance of leather in accordance with BS:6608.

A convex wooden slab sloping downwards from about waist height, over which a hide is placed for trimming off excess flesh and ragged edges and for unhairing by hand.

That part of the hide below the belly line. For steerhide leather, the belly line passes through a point at or above the top of the rear break. For cowhide leather, the belly line passes through a point at or above the top of the front break and a point not more than 2-1/2 inches below the top of the rear break.

• a - Part of the hide covering the underside and upper part of the legs of the animal.
• b - Leather made from (a). 

A privately owned research organisation based in Northampton, that provides a consultancy service in all aspects of leather and its production. 

The transfer of materials exuded from leather to other material that comes into contact with it. It is usually designated as staining.

Adjective applied to stiff, inflexible leather.

The superficial wrinkling formed when the leather is bent, grain inward, with a radius of curvature like that formed at the vamp of a shoe in walking. Adjectives commonly used to describe this characteristic are tight, loose, coarse, and pipey (see pipeyness).

The British Standard for sampling pieces of leather for testing.  The test methods are adopted from those found in the official methods book, produced by the SLTC and endorsed by the IULTCS.

This is the former British Standard for cattle hide leathers for upholstered furniture, it is now obsolete and has been replaced by BSEN 13336.  It gives guidelines as to the physical specification of leather, e.g. rub fastness, flexing endurance.

This is the British Standard Specification for resistance to ignition of upholstered furniture for non-domestic seating [assessed] by testing composites

Is the test method for assessment of the ignitability of upholstered furniture, with the ignition source being a smouldering cigarette

Is the test method for assessment of the ignitability of upholstered furniture, with the ignition source being a match flame equivalent.

The current standard for upholstery leather in Europe.

Leather manufactured by removing minor blemishes from the grain layer by an abrasive or bladed cylinder or, less generally by hand. In the case of upholstery leather the buffing process is invariably carried out by machine though it is sometimes incorrectly described as "hand buffed".

White or cream coloured, flexible, dry feeling, oil tanned cattle hide leather with a velvet-like nap on the grain side

Damage to hides caused by improper removal of flesh / detritus from the animal. Damage is usually in the form of cuts or furrows on the flesh side, sometimes called flay damage

The part of the hide after the bellies and shoulders have been removed.