blanco
(ˈblæŋkəʊ)
[Trade name, f. F. blanc white.]
A white preparation for whitening accoutrements; also, a similar preparation of khaki colouring. Hence ˈblanco v. trans., to treat with blanco; ˈblancoed ppl. a.
| 1895 in Army & Navy Co-op. Soc. Price-list. 1906 Daily Chron. 30 Mar. 3/7 The sleeves get covered with ‘blanco’ off the belt. 1912 E. Wallace Pte. Selby viii. 75 One unhappy mortal, ‘warned’ for guard..was lugubriously ‘blancoing’ his straps. a 1918 W. Owen Coll. Poems (1963) 79 Boots dubbined; rifles clean and oiled; Belts blancoed. 1948 A. Baron From City 32 For half a crown he would blanco the whole of a man's equipment. a 1953 Dylan Thomas Quite Early One Morning (1954) 30 Gym-shoes white as the blanco'd snow. 1955 Times 25 June 6/5 Since the war they have worn British battle-dress and blancoed web equipment. 1966 D. Holbrook Flesh Wounds 37 They covered their webbing with the watery yellow blanco. |