Skinning commonly refers to the act of Skin removal, from the verb ''to skin''.
This is usually done with dead animals, mainly as preparation for consumption of the meat beneath and/or use as Fur . The skin can also be used as a trophy or a simple proof of the kill to collect a premium form health, agricultural, or other authorities, in the case of a species that has been declared a Pest .
Skinning can also be performed on live humans as a form of Corporal Punishment , known as Flaying . As the removal of all (or most) or a person's skin is terminal, as well as extremely painful, this is an effective method of Capital Punishment .
--- The word Scalping refers specifically to the removal of the skin from the skull, usually performed on a dead victim.
Skinning is a metaphor for the removal of all of much of the essence of something, leaving the object (which can even be abstract) in a much poorer state, for example under-funded after skinning its budget.
Skinning may also refer to the act of creating a " Skin " (also called " Themes ") to change appearance of a Computer Program . Programs that support skins are considered "skinnable."
