goldbeater's skin

American  

[gohld-bee-terz] / ˈgoʊldˌbi tərz /

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.

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goldbeater's skin British  

/ ˈɡəʊldˌbiːtəz /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of goldbeater's skin

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

goldbeater's skin

The gas cells of many of the early zeppelins were made from so-called goldbeater’s skin: cow intestines beaten to a pulp and then stretched.

From The New Yorker ● Feb. 29, 2016

For the records here recorded either glass or goldbeater's skin was used as a diaphragm.

From Harvard Psychological Studies, Volume 1 Containing Sixteen Experimental Investigations from the Harvard Psychological Laboratory. by Münsterberg, Hugo

Attaches a bit of clock spring to a piece of goldbeater's skin, speaks to it, an audible message is received at a distant and similar device.

From Little Masterpieces of Science: Invention and Discovery by Iles, George

The Hungary water was immediately brought to bathe it, and goldbeater's skin applied to stop the blood.

From Isaac Bickerstaff, physician and astrologer by Steele, Richard, Sir

I applied the caustic to form an eschar, covering it with goldbeater's skin.

From An Essay on the Application of the Lunar Caustic in the Cure of Certain Wounds and Ulcers by Higginbottom, John