goldbeater's skin

[gohld-bee-terz]

noun

1. the prepared outside membrane of the large intestine of the ox, used by goldbeaters to lay between the leaves of the metal while they beat it into gold leaf.

goldbeater's skin

/ ˈɡəʊldˌbiːtəz /

noun

1. animal membrane used to separate sheets of gold that are being hammered into gold leaf

Word History and Origins

Origin of goldbeater's skin¹

First recorded in 1700–10; gold + beater + 's ¹