society > occupation and work > industry > working with specific materials > working with skins > work with skins [verb (transitive)] > steep hides (5)
To treat or dress with lime. To steep (skins) in lime and water.
transitive. To soak (hides or cloth) in a solution containing sumac, as part of a tanning or dyeing process.
transitive. Dyeing and Tanning. To make (a dyestuff) brighter or sharper by treatment with a solution of lye; to subject (a dyestuff, dyed cloth…
transitive. Tanning. To soak (hide) in a suspension of canine or other faeces. Cf. pure, n. 6. Now historical.
To steep in bate: see bate, n.5