What is "tan bed"

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.

2. A yellowish-brown color, like that of tan.

3. A brown color imparted to the skin by exposure to the sun; as, hands covered with tan.

   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.