tanning; tanned
Prefix used in compound nouns related to leather tanning, such as 鞣革 (tanned leather) or 鞣剤 (tanning agent). Not used as a standalone word.
This tanned leather is very soft.
鞣剤には植物性と鉱物性のものがある。
There are vegetable and mineral tanning agents.
The kanji 鞣 is composed of 革 (leather) and 柔 (soft), reflecting the process of softening hides. The reading なめし is the nominalized form of the verb 鞣す (なめす, 'to tan').