Kaolin

Natural form of hydrated aluminium silicate sometimes used as a filler for leather.

Ked

Wingless fly sometimes called the sheep louse or tick, which attacks sheep, puncturing the skin to suck blood; recently said to cause rib cockle.

Note: Melophagus ovinus.

Keratin

Insoluble, cystine-containing protein of which hairs and wool, feathers, scales, nails, claws, horns and the older epidermal layers are chiefly composed.

Keratinisation

Transformation of the epidermal proteins in keratin to form hair, wool and epidermis structure.

Khari salt

Khari or salt-earth, is a natural product used for curing hides and skins, occurring in the Indian sub-continent and SE Asia, consisting mainly of sodium sulphate and magnesium sulphate together with about 30% earthy matter.

See: Mud-cured.

Kiss marks

Pale, well defined area on vegetable tanned leather produced through the contact of hides with each other in the suspender tanning pits. This contact prevents the even penetration of the tanning agent.