Huidrek

Huidrek is a Dutch noun formed from huid (skin) and rek (rack or frame). In standard Dutch it is an obscure term and its meaning can vary by context or region. The word is most often encountered in historical, dialectal, or specialized trades rather than as a common everyday object.

In the leather and tanning industry, huidrek refers to a frame or rack used to handle hides during processing. Such a device would serve to hold or stretch hides, allowing them to dry or cure evenly after removal from the tanning bath. The design could consist of a simple wooden or metal frame with multiple crossbars to support hides of different sizes, keeping them flat and accessible.

In other contexts, huidrek may denote a display or storage rack for skins or hides, for example in museums, taxidermy workshops, or rural settings where cured hides are stored. Here the primary function is to organize and air-dry rather than to process the material.

Etymology and usage notes: The term is a straightforward compound of huid and rek, but it remains largely regional or historical. Contemporary standard Dutch speakers may use more common terms such as huid of huidverwerking in related industries, while huidrek appears mainly in older texts or specialized jargon.

See also: huid, rek, tanning, leatherworking, hide processing, taxidermy.