Russia leather

American  

noun

1. a fine, smooth leather produced by careful tanning and dyeing, especially in dark red: originally prepared in Russia.

---

Russia leather British  

noun

1. a smooth dyed leather made from calfskin and scented with birch tar oil, originally produced in Russia

---

Etymology

Origin of Russia leather

First recorded in 1650–60

Example Sentences

He took from a Russia leather case a clean professional card, and presented it to the young man.

From The New Gulliver and Other Stories by Pain, Barry

By dry distillation the bark yields an empyreumatic oil, called diogott in Russia, used in the preparation of Russia leather; to this oil the peculiar pleasant odour of the leather is due.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Slice 7 "Bible" to "Bisectrix" by Various

Mr. Stanhope knows that clippings of Russia leather and cedar-shavings will keep the little creatures off our shawls and muffs, and why should not the pretty things live and be happy?'

From Forgotten Tales of Long Ago by Bedford, F. D.

It was even possible that he had hidden for a few hours in the secret closet the contents of the Russia leather bag.

From The Window at the White Cat by Rinehart, Mary Roberts

Manufacture of woollens, cottons, Russia leather and embroidery is carried on, and there is trade in cattle, wine, tobacco, hemp, hides and grain.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6 "Armour Plates" to "Arundel, Earls of" by Various