▪ I. powdering, vbl. n.
(ˈpaʊdərɪŋ)
[f. powder v.1 + -ing1.]
The action of powder v.1, or the result of this.
1. The action of sprinkling or dusting something with powder; spec. the application of powder as a cosmetic to the hair or face.
| c 1440 Promp. Parv. 411/1 Powderynge, wythe powder, pulverisacio. 1599 B. Jonson Cynthia's Rev. Ded., It is not pould'ring, perfuming, and every day smelling of the taylor, that converteth to a beautiful object. 1656 Artif. Handsom. 78 They forbid all painting, patching, and powdering. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xxi. IV. 673 [He] was very particular on his last day about the powdering and curling of his wig. |
b. A deposit of powdery substance sprinkled upon a surface; a thin sprinkling (of something).
| 1834 Arnold in Stanley Life & Corr. (1844) I. vii. 373 We had no snow in the valleys, but frequently a thick powdering on the higher mountains. 1897 Allbutt's Syst. Med. II. 139 On the face and ears it [i.e. Scarlatinal peeling] usually takes the form of a fine powdering. 1902 Westm. Gaz. 25 Nov. 10/1 On the..19th and 20th a powdering of snow showed on the southern side of Monte Bignone. |
2. The seasoning or preserving of food with salt or spice. Also
fig. ?
Obs.| c 1450 Two Cookery-bks. 69 Powdryng of beef, or eny other fressh flessh. 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Salure, poudring, or salting. 1587 Golding De Mornay xiii. (1592) 196 The Deathes of the giltlesse..is but a powdering of their vertues, to preserue them to the vse of posteritie. 1615 [see potting vbl. n.1 3]. 1630 J. Taylor (Water P.) Gt. Eater Kent 16 Hee is profitable in..sauing the charge of salt; for his appetite will not waite and attend the powdring. |
3. Decoration with spots or small figures disposed as if sprinkled over a surface.
b. concr. (usually
pl.) Such figures themselves collectively;
esp. the spots on a heraldic fur, or small charges (
e.g. fleurs-de-lys) scattered over the field.
| 1405–6 Norwich Sacrist's Roll (MS.), In serico et in rosis de auro emptis pro powderyng. 1480 Wardr. Acc. Edw. IV (1830) 116 Powderings made of bogy leggs. 1505 Acc. Ld. High Treas. Scot. III. 41 Item for xxx{supm} powderingis to the samyn; [the Kingis rob riall] ilk hundreth iij s.; summa..xlv li. 1602 Segar Hon. Mil. & Civ. iv. xxii. 238 A Duke's eldest sonne is borne in the degree of a Marquesse, and weares as many powdrings as a Marquesse. 1727–41 Chambers Cycl., Powderings, in building, a term some⁓times used for devices serving to fill up vacant spaces, in carved works: also in escutcheons, writings, &c. 1766 Porny Heraldry iii. (1777) 26 Ermine is a Field Argent, with small points or spots Sable, in the form of little Triangles, which in Heraldry are generally called Powdering. 1880 Academy 18 Dec. 446/3 The embroiderers..did not seek for novelty; diapers and powderings, even angel and saint, were reproduced over and over again without much change except of arrangement. |
4. attrib. and
Comb.: as
powdering things;
powdering-closet = powdering-room;
powdering-dress,
-gown a garment worn over the ordinary clothes to protect them while the hair was being powdered;
† powdering-house, a building in which meat was ‘powdered’ or preserved with salt or spices;
powdering-mill a mill for pulverizing some substance (as ore, snuff);
† powdering pearls, small pearls used for ‘powdering’ (see 3);
powdering-room, a room appropriated to powdering the hair;
powdering-slipper: see
quot.;
† powdering trough, a trough in which meat was ‘powdered’. See also
powdering-tub.
| 1786 Miss E. Clayton in Mrs. Delany's Life & Corr. Ser. ii. III. 399 A bed-chamber, two dressing-rooms, two *powdering-closets. 1875 Miss Thackeray Miss Angel xv, There was a powdering-closet on the second story of the house. |
| 1776 Mrs. Harris in Priv. Lett. Ld. Malmesbury (1870) I. 347 In his hurry, he threw his *powdering dress over his shoulders. |
| c 1770 T. Erskine Barber in Poet. Reg. (1810) 328 Rob'd in a flannel *powd'ring goun. 1900 Doyle Green Flag, Capt. Sharkey i, He wore a loose damask powdering⁓gown secured by a cord round the waist. |
| 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Vne Saliére, a *poudring house, a salte seller. |
| 1606 in Nichols Progr. Jas. I (1828) II. 61 note, 10 oz. and halfe of rag *poudring pearles. |
| a 1774 J. & R. Adam Archit. II. pl. 1 By means of an intersol over the closet and *powdering room, we have introduced a servant's sleeping-room adjoining to this apartment. 1900 Besant in Daily News 3 Sept. 6/2, I wish I could show you one room in the house. It was the old ‘powdering-room’. |
| 182. M. Edgeworth Parent's Assist., Basket-woman (1856) 469 ‘These slippers are meant ―’. ‘For *powdering-slippers, miss’... ‘To wear when people are powdering their hair..that they may not spoil their other shoes’. |
| 1786 F. Burney Diary 24 July, We help her [the Queen] off with her gown, and on with her *powdering things. |
| 1612 in Antiquary Jan. (1906) 29 In the larder... Twoe *powdringe Troves with covers, a powdringe Tubbe, twoe lesser tubbes. |
▪ II. ˈpowdering, ppl. a.1 [f. powder v.1 + -ing2.] That powders; that sprinkles with powder.
| 1799 J. Robertson Agric. Perth 318 The powdering particles, which we see on the grass and trees. 1832–53 W. Miller in Whistle-binkie (Scotch Songs) Ser. iii. 107 You've come..Wi' your crispin' an' poutherin' gear, John Frost. 1880 Blackmore Mary Anerley II. xviii. 306 Some of the powdering willow dusted her bright luxuriant locks with gold. |
▪ III. ˈpowdering, ppl. a.2 [f. powder v.2 + -ing2.] Rushing impetuously;
fig. impetuous, violent.
| 1619 Balcanqual in Hales' Gold. Rem. ii. (1673) 73 They were called in and dismist with such a powdering speech as I doubt not..your Lordship hath heard with grief enough. |