Russia leather

American  

noun

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

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Russia leather British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of Russia leather

First recorded in 1650–60

Example Sentences

It was not an unpleasant odour; it seemed to me a little like Russia leather.

From Memoirs of an American Prima Donna by Kellogg, Clara Louise

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

She held a square Russia leather case, in corn-flower blue.

From A Duel by Marsh, Richard

V The Sailor paid six-and-six for the belt of Russia leather, and in Ginger's opinion that was as good as getting it for nothing.

From The Sailor by Snaith, J. C.

Reticent as he was, his feverish excitement made me think that something vital hung on the recovery of the contents of that Russia leather bag.

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