Green’s Dictionary of Slang

in prize-fighting, the skin.

1857		Bell’s Life in Victoria (Melbourne) 5 Sept. 2/6: Tom again got home on the snuffer-tray, romoving a piece of the japan, and drawing a fresh supply of the ruby.
1903		Bulletin (Sydney) 23 July 21/4: ‘Tom got home on the snuffer-tray, removing a piece of the japan, and drawing forth a fresh supply of the ruby,’ is vividly descriptive – there is nothing ambiguous about it.