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

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

The diaphragm was of glass, thin rubber, or goldbeater's skin.

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

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

The disproportion between the slight mass of the drum and the bones it actuated, is said to have suggested to him the employment of goldbeater's skin as membrane in his speaking telephone.

From Heroes of the Telegraph by Munro, John

He used a diaphragm of goldbeater's skin, of conical shape, with a stylus acting over a fulcrum and writing on a thinly smoked glass plate.

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