The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Tan \Tan\, n. [F. tan, perhaps fr. Armor. tann an oak, oak bar;
   or of Teutonic origin; cf. G. tanne a fir, OHG. tanna a fir,
   oak, MHG. tan a forest. Cf. Tawny.]
   1. The bark of the oak, and some other trees, bruised and
      broken by a mill, for tanning hides; -- so called both
      before and after it has been used. Called also tan bark.
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   2. A yellowish-brown color, like that of tan.
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   3. A brown color imparted to the skin by exposure to the sun;
      as, hands covered with tan.
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   Tan bed (Hort.), a bed made of tan; a bark bed.

   Tan pickle, the liquor used in tanning leather.

   Tan spud, a spud used in stripping bark for tan from trees.


   Tan stove. See Bark stove, under Bark.

   Tan vat, a vat in which hides are steeped in liquor with
      tan.
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