Skinning, a gerund from the verb to skin, commonly refers to the act of skin removal.
The process is usually done with animals, mainly as preparation of the meat beneath and/or use for the fur. The skin can also be used as a trophy or a simple proof of the kill to collect a premium from 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 capital punishment, known as flaying.