Each trade has its own jargon. This list offers a brief word of explanation on some of the more commonly used terms with reference to leather and the processing of leather.
- Aniline : aniline is a colourless oily liquid used in making colouring agents. Aniline-based colourants penetrate deep into the leather, leaving all natural features of the leather to remain visible.
- Buffed leather : leather from which the top surface has been (partially) removed by an abrasive or bladed cylinder.
- Dyed leather : leather which has been dyed with aniline colourants. This causes both the inside and outside of the leather skin to take on the same colour and leave surface deteriorations less visible.
- Full-grain leather : leather with its surface left fully intact. Non-processed leather.
- Grain (pattern) : leather face structure; patterns can be compact, fine, medium or coarse.
- Grain side : the leather's top surface.
- Impregnating : prior treatment of the leather against grime and moisture.
- Lightfastness : not prone to discolouration when exposed to sun or UV light.
- Nappa leather : collective term for all types of full-grained leather.
- Nubuck leather : nubuck is a type of velours leather.
- Patina : natural process of change in the appearance of leather.
- Pigmented leather : leather with a large amount of pigment colourants sprayed onto the surface face.
- Pigments : colourants which are sprayed onto the leather face.
- Pore : tiny opening in the skin, allowing the leather to 'breathe'.
- Printing : printing a consistent grain structure onto the leather face.
- Pure natural or pure aniline leather : pure natural leather which has only been dyed with aniline colourants.
- Slightly pigmented or semi-aniline leather : leather with a small amount of pigment colourants sprayed on the surface face.
- Tanning : converting animal skin (bull skins in the case of JORI) into durable leather.
- Velours leather : collective term for all types of buffed leather.
