Fleshing

Fleshing refers to the removal of flesh, fat, and connective tissue from hides or carcasses in order to prepare them for tanning or other processing. The term is also used figuratively to describe giving more substance to an idea or plan, as in fleshing out a concept.

In leather production, fleshing is a standard preparatory step. A hide is scraped of adherent tissue using a fleshing knife or a mechanical fleshing machine. The process removes flesh, fat, membranes, and blood vessels to achieve a clean, uniform surface. Proper fleshing helps tanning yield and hide quality; excessive scraping can damage the grain, while insufficient removal can leave material that interferes with tanning or rots later. Operators adjust blade angle, pressure, and moisture and may work in stages to avoid overheating or gouging the hide.

In writing and planning, to flesh out a concept means to add details, context, and supporting information so the idea becomes fuller and more credible. This figurative use is common in drafting, storytelling, design, and research, where a basic outline is expanded into a more complete and workable form.

The term derives from flesh, the body, and reflects both the literal process of removing tissue and the figurative sense of adding substance or body to something. Fleshing, in its various uses, is often followed by subsequent steps such as tanning in leather work or elaboration in writing.