blackˈlead, black-ˈlead, v.
[f. prec.]
a. trans. To colour or rub with black-lead; to trace or draw in black-lead. Hence black-ˈleaded ppl. a., black-ˈleading vbl. n.
| 1839 C. Brontë Let. 21 Dec. in Life, I am much happier black-leading the stoves. 1861 Pycroft Agony Point (1862) 154 The same hands that had black-leaded the grate. c 1865 G. Gore in Circ. Sc. I. 220/1 Zinc deposits spread over blackleaded surfaces. Ibid. 234/1 The mould may..be prepared..by blackleading. |
b. In Electrotyping, to brush (the mould) over with blacklead.
| 1888 Encycl. Brit. XXIII. 703/2 The mould, having been finished, has to be blackleaded... To facilitate this operation, a blackleading machine is used in large establishments... The process of depositing a copper solution upon the blackleaded surface of the mould is continued until a solid plate is formed. |