The term is sometimes used to refer to the finishing processes used to age denim garments or create other effects by various means such as the enzyme wash or the stone wash.
It may also refer to the very last step in denim production, which consists of three phases: running the denim through rolls to remove excess lint or fibres; hauling it through a gas flame to burn off fibres; and lastly, dipping the cloth in a vat of a finishing liquid and running it through ringers to remove any remaining liquid.
Source: Nouvelle de Nîmes Nº 5: The Denim Dictionary
