▪ I. powder, n.1
(ˈpaʊdə(r))
Forms: 3–6 poudre, 4 pudre, puder, 4–6 powdre, (4 -dir, 4–5 -dyr, 5 -dur), 4–8 pouder, (4–5 -ere, -ur, 4–6 -ir, 5 -ire), 4– powder; also 4–6 pouldre, 5–6 pulder (6 -dre, Sc. -dir, -dyr), 5–7 poulder (6 Sc. -dar), 6–7 powlder. β. 5 pouþer, 5– 6 (9 Sc.) pouther, 6–7 (8 Sc.) powther.
[ME. a. F. poudre (13th c.):—earlier OF. poldre, puldre:—polre (11–12th c.):—L. pulver-em (in nom. pulvis, whence It. polve, Sp. polvo, Pr. pols) dust. In 15–16th c. F. usually spelt pouldre (l re-inserted after L.); so, in 15–17th c. Eng., poulder, etc. With pouther cf. Sc. shouther = shoulder; also father, mother, gather, hither, with ð for d before -er.]
1. a. Any solid matter in a state of minute subdivision; the mass of dry impalpable particles or granules produced by grinding, crushing, or disintegration of any solid substance; dust. (Cf. dust n.1 1, 3 a.)
| c 1290 S. Eng. Leg. I. 477/532 And brenden al-to poudre feor fram euerech toune. a 1300 Cursor M. 6616 (Cott.) Þis golden calf he did to brest to pudre [Gött. poudir]. 13.. Ibid. 20731 (Fairf.) Bren hit to powdre. 1390 Gower Conf. I. 109 He sende, and him to pouldre smot. c 1400 Mandeville (Roxb.) vii. 25 He brynnes him self all to powder. 1490 Caxton Eneydos xii. 44 The bodyes..conuerted in-to poulder. 1526 Tindale Matt. xxi. 44 He shall grynd him to powder [1535 Coverdale to poulder]. 1533 Elyot Cast. Helthe (1539) 77 b, Fryed or layde on a burning hote stone, & made in powlder. 1542 Udall Erasm. Apoph. 111 b, I will..crushe thy hedde to powther. Ibid. 269 b, Sodainly crummed to dust & pouther. 1549 Compl. Scot. i. 21 Vas it nocht brynt in puldir ande asse? 1605 B. Jonson Volpone i. i, To grinde hem into poulder. 1641 J. Jackson True Evang. T. i. 8 Dissected into parts, not beaten into pouder. 1662 J. Davies tr. Olearius' Voy. Ambass. 46 There is fall of water..so violent, that breaking upon the Rocks, it is reduc'd as it were to powder. 1799 G. Smith Laboratory I. 182 Clear your glass..from the powder that may lie upon it. 1853 W. Gregory Inorg. Chem. (ed. 3) 226 Peroxide of Nickel... It is a black powder. 1880 G. Meredith Tragic Com. (1881) 183 If there are laws against my having my own, to powder with the laws! |
† b. spec. Earth in the state of dry impalpable particles; the dust of the ground. Often in phrases denoting a condition of humiliation, or of being dead and buried. (
Cf. dust n.1 1, 3 a, 3 c.)
Obs.| 1297 R. Glouc. (Rolls) 7080 Vol of þe poudre of þe erþe. a 1325 Prose Psalter xliii. [xliv.] 27 Our soule is lowed in poudre. 1382 Wyclif Job vii. 21 Lo, nowe in pouder [1388 dust] I slepe. ― Isa. xlvii. 1 Go doun, sit in pouder [1388 in dust], thou maiden doȝter of Babilon. a 1533 Ld. Berners Huon xciii. 297 The sonne lost his lyght by reason of the pouder that rose vp in to the ayre. |
† c. The material substance of which the animal body is regarded as created or composed, and to which it returns when decomposed; also, the mouldered remains of a dead body, or the ashes of one that is burnt. (
Cf. dust n.1 3 a, b.)
Obs.| a 1300 Cursor M. 929 (Cott.) Þou nees bot a pudre [v.r. pouder] plain, To puder sal þou worth a-gain. 1382 Wyclif Gen. iii. 19 For powdre thow art, and into powdre thow shalt turne [1388 dust]. 1387 Trevisa Higden (Rolls) II. 83 Of kyng Haralde Poudre þere ȝit is halde. 1481 Caxton Myrr. ii. viii. 82 Out of thise asshes and pouldre groweth agayn another byrde. 1536 Bellenden Cron. Scot. (1821) I. 194 Scho departit..to Rome, berand with hir the powder of thair fader, in ane goldin poke. 1552 Lyndesay Monarche 5170 Thy vyle corruptit carioun Sall..remane, in pulder small, On to the Iugement Generall. |
d. Applied to the pollen of flowers, or to the spores of
Lycopodium. (
Cf. dust n.1 1 c.)
| 1676 Lister in Ray's Corr. (1848) 124, I..put them [Lycopodiums] in a box, and found they shed their powder of themselves. 1857 Henfrey Bot. §215 The Pollen..consists in almost all cases of a fine powder composed of microscopic vesicles. 1872 Oliver Elem. Bot. i. i. 8 The fine powder is the pollen. |
e. = powder snow.
| 1948 Sun (N.Y.) 30 Dec. 16 North Conway. 3 inch new powder. Skiing fair. 1973 P. A. Whitney Snowfire xii. 235 The average skier..didn't care for loose powder. But there was still powder on the steepest slope. 1973 R. Hayes Hungarian Game xliv. 257, I came here to ski and I'd hate to miss all this nice fresh powder. 1974 G. Moffat Corpse Road ii. 34 We had a light fall at Christmas..just powder on frozen grass. |
2. A preparation in the form of powder, for some special use or purpose. (See also 3.)
a. In medicine, etc.; formerly (usually) a corrosive, stimulant, etc. for external application; in later use, a medicine, or a dose of medicine, to be taken internally, usually in some liquid or semi-liquid vehicle.
Often named after the inventor or introducer, or from the purpose, as
Dover's powder, james's
powder, jesuit's
powder,
Portland powder,
worm powder, etc.
| 1340 Ayenb. 148 Verst he ssel þerto do þe smeringes and þe plastres of zuete warningges... Þe poudres efterward and prekiinde of harde wyþniminge. 1377 Langl. P. Pl. B. xx. 357 The plastres of þe persoun and poudres biten to sore. a 1400–50 Stockh. Med. MS. 143 A good powdyr. 1527 Andrew Brunswyke's Distyll. Waters A j, With waters dystyllyd, all maner of confeccyons, syropes, powders, and electuaryes be myxced. 1611 B. Jonson Catiline ii. i, Giue me some wine, and poulder for my teeth. 1615 Crooke Body of Man 55 We are constrayned to inhibite and restrayne the increase with corrasiue Liniments and poulders. a 1641 Bp. R. Montagu Acts & Mon. iv. (1642) 270 Mariamne had dealt with..his Cup-bearer, to give him a powder in his wine, which she said was a Love potion. 1695 tr. Colbatch's New Lt. Chirurg. Put out 23 Neither Tincture, Solution, nor Pouder. 1768–74 Tucker Lt. Nat. (1834) II. 235 Such an one has great faith in Ward's pill, or James' powder. 1789 W. Buchan Dom. Med. (1790) 691 The lighter powders may be mixed in any agreeable thin liquor, as tea or water-gruel. 1865 Mrs. Carlyle Lett. (1883) III. 265 When I had finished the antifebrile powders. |
b. In alchemy or magic.
powder of projection,
powder of sympathy: see these words.
| c 1386 Chaucer Can. Yeom. Prol. & T. 580, I haue a poudre heer þat coste me deere Shal make al good for it is cause of al My konnyng. 1610 B. Jonson Alch. i. i, You must be chiefe? as if you, onely, had The poulder to proiect with? 1663 Gerbier Counsel b viij b, That he doth really possess its true (and no imaginary) pouder of production, That of Hermes Trismegistos. 1706 Phillips s.v. Projection, The pretended casting of the Powder of the Philosopher's Stone into a Crucible of melted Metal, in order to change it into Gold or Silver, is call'd Projection. |
† c. Powdered salt, spice, or other condiment, for seasoning or preserving food. (
Cf. powder v.
1 1, 2.) Also
fig. Obs.| 13.. Coer de L. 3070 And soden ful hastely, With powdyr and with spysory. c 1460 J. Russell Bk. Nurture 620 Þe fische in a dische..With vineger & powdur þer vppon. a 1555 Latimer in Foxe A. & M. (1583) 1755/1 Haue I bene..so muche, as it were seasoned with the powder of so many experiences? 1565–73 Cooper Thesaurus s.v. Asseruo, Sale vel in sale asseruare carnes, to kepe meate in pouder. 1640 C. Harvey Synagogue, Return (1647) 25 He that his joyes would keep, Must weep, And in the brine of tears And fears, Must pickle them. That powder will preserve. |
d. A cosmetic in the form of powder applied to the face or skin; also
hair-powder.
in powder, wearing hair-powder; also
out of powder.
| a 1571 Jewel On 1 Thess. i. 7 Wks. II. 825 Such as are bathed or perfumed with precious ointments or poulders. a 1639 T. Carew Poems (1640) 8 For, in pure love, Heaven did prepare Those powders to enrich your hair! 1663 Davenant Siege of Rhodes Wks. (1672) 9 Our Powders and our Purls Are now out of fashion. 1758 Johnson Idler No. 5 ¶11 The hair has lost its powder. 1789 Mrs. Piozzi Journ. France I. 417, I had some grains of marechale powder in my hair. 1792 Lady Templetown Let. 11 June in A. E. Newdigate-Newdegate Cheverels (1898) vii. 103 M{supr} Romney..has acquitted himself well in respect to Lady Newdigate... The hair is of an agreable duskiness that is neither in nor out of powder. 1839 Thackeray Major Gahagan i, We wore powder in those days. 1849 ― Pendennis I. xxiii. 219 Two superior officers in black..now in livery with their hair in powder. 1863 Crown Princess of Prussia Let. 11 May in R. Fulford Dearest Mama (1968) 211 We give a ball in powder tomorrow as this old Palais will have been up 100 years. 1874 L. Troubridge Life amongst Troubridges (1966) ix. 78 The day began hatefully by Grobee telling us that we were not to go to the Cresswells' dance in powder..what possible difference could it make to him whether we went with black hair or white. 1883 Mrs. R. Ritchie Bk. Sibyls i. 6 An oval miniature, belonging to the times of powder and of puff. 1897 R. Hichens Londoners (1902) 8 The footman looked pleased beneath his powder. 1924 M. Irwin Still she wished for Company xix. 233 Slovenly Lady Catherine Grey drove over, out of powder at four in the afternoon. 1954 H. Ashton (title) Footman in powder. |
e. With
of and the name of the substance.
† powder of post: the powder of a worm-eaten post; also used as the type of a neutral and worthless medicine.
| 1390 Gower Conf. III. 96 A corde..Whan it with poudre is so besein Of Sulphre. c 1420 Liber Cocorum (1862) 30 Take powder of galingale, and temper with alle; Powder of gyngere and salt also. c 1440 Douce MS. 55 lf. 31 b, Kest ther to a litell powdre of pepyr. 1607 Topsell Four-f. Beasts (1658) 286 The powder of Myrrhe or burnt silk, felt, or cloth, or any old post. 1710 J. Clarke Rohault's Nat. Phil. (1729) I. 139, I ordered the Third to put his upon the Wheel, and grind it plain..with Powder of Emery. 1769 Wesley Wks. (1872) XIV. 258 Beware of swallowing ounce after ounce of indigestible powder, though it were powder of post. 1808 Bentham Sc. Reform 59 One of the powder-of-posts which the Pharmacopœia..is full of. 1823 J. Badcock Dom. Amusem. 95 In a tea-spoonful of honey..mix a drachm of powder of tin. 1845 S. Judd Margaret (1851) II. vii. 101 The grubs of the law have gnawed into us, and we are all powder-post. 1860 Miller Elem. Chem. (ed. 2) II. 639 Powder of algaroth. |
† f. Followed by qualifying words, in names of drugs, flavouring powders, etc.
Obs. powder marchant, a tart kind of flavouring powder.
powder of prelinpinpin,
powder pimp a lim pimp,
powder pimperlim-pimp,
powder le pimp, a pretended magical powder used by conjurers; hence allusively. [
= F.
poudre de perlimpinpin (in Richelet 1680
poudre de prelinpinpin).]
| c 1386 Chaucer Prol. 381 And poudre Marchant tart and galyngale. c 1440 Anc. Cookery in Househ. Ord. (1790) 425 Colour hit wyth saffron, and do therto pouder marchant. Ibid. 426 Put therto pouder douce. 1534 Nottingham Rec. III. 190 Powder Holand. 1688 Vox Cleri pro Rege 55 By virtue of their Powder pimp a lim pimp, he is changed again into a limited Prince. 1694 Motteux Rabelais V. 238 Masters in the Art of Hocus Pocus's, Legerdemain, and Powder of Prelinpinpin [Joüeurs de passe-passe]. 1704 Swift T. Tub iv. 97 Peter would put in a certain Quantity of his Powder Pimperlim-pimp, after which it never failed of Success. 1737 [Morgan] Moral Philos. I. 96 This clerical Religion is a new Thimble and Button, or a Powder le Pimp. |
g. Denoting other preparations in the form of a powder, chiefly in cookery, hygiene, perfumery, etc., and
usu. as the second element of a
Comb., as
baby powder,
baking powder,
curry powder,
flea powder,
insect powder,
milk powder,
soap powder,
talcum powder,
tooth powder,
washing powder, etc.: see under the headwords.
h. Slang
phr. to take a powder: to depart, absent oneself; to abscond. See also
run-out 4.
orig. and chiefly
U.S.| 1934 J. Proskauer Suckers All xxiv. 279 The smartest guy in the office took a walk out powder this morning. 1940 J. O'Hara Pal Joey 72 And take a powder out of here that day. 1941 R. Chandler in Street & Smith's Detective Story Mag. Sept. 25 Why are you taking a powder? 1954 ‘N. Blake’ Whisper in Gloom xvi. 220 ‘Where's the Yank?’..‘Gone. He took a powder.’ 1961 J. Maclaren-Ross Doomsday Bk. v. 65 Phoned four times—no reply. Seems as if..Passman's taken a temporary powder. 1972 ‘H. Howard’ Nice Day for Funeral iii. 39 If he'd dumped it [sc. a corpse] in the river..everybody was bound to think Frankie had taken a powder to dodge the grand jury. 1979 P. Ableman Shoestring i. 14 The very minute that I first looked into her..eyes... Philip Marlowe took a powder and Shoestring, the womanless, took over. |
3. a. = gunpowder 1.
| [1339, xxxii libræ de pulvere pro dictis Instrumentis: see gun n. 1.] c 1384 Chaucer H. Fame iii. 554 As swifte as pelet out of gonne Whan fire is in the poudre ronne. a 1460 Gregory's Chron. in Coll. Citizen L. (Camden) 118 Schottys, powder, gonnys. a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VI 141 b, Poulder failed in the fortresse. 1570 in Satir. Poems Reform. x. 88 Bothwell with pulder blew him in the air. 1627 Capt. Smith Seaman's Gram. xiv. 68 Fined corned Powder for hand Guns. 1795 Nelson in Nicolas Disp. (1845) II. 19, I have sent Officers and Men to get the powder out of the Censeur. 1818 Scott Br. Lamm. xxvi, And for the pouther, I e'en changed it, as occasion served,..for gin and brandy. 1818–25 Percussion powder [see percussion 5]. 1901 Scotsman 14 Mar. 7/3 The Explosives Committee..are now desirous of obtaining all the information..about the new powders that are being brought out by inventors. |
b. powder and shot, the matériel expended in warfare; hence, the cost or effort expended for some result;
food for powder: see
food n. 1 d;
the smell of powder, actual experience of fighting; etc. Fig.
phr. to keep one's powder dry, with allusion to the advice said to have been given by Oliver Cromwell to his troops: to adopt a practical or realistic policy; to act prudentially or cautiously, be on the alert.
| 1579 Gosson Sch. Abuse, Apol. (Arb.) 75 When I spare not to greete them with poulder and shot, answeares mee againe with a false fire. 1604 Hieron Wks. I. 484 [To] spend all their powder and shot to the beating downe of that, which I hope they shal neuer bee able to ouerthrow. 1620 Sanderson Serm. I. 160 You..imagine that all His threatnings are but ‘bruta fulmina’, empty cracks and powder without shot. 1776 Foote Bankrupt ii. Wks. 1799 II. 115 Meagre mechanics, fellows not worth powder and shot. 1786 Burns Earnest Cry and Prayer Postscr. iii, Their gun's a burden on their shouther; They downa bide the stink o' powther. 1809 Malkin Gil Blas i. x. ¶2 A novice, not yet accustomed to the smell of powder. [1834 Col. Blacker Oliver's Advice in E. Hayes Ballads of Ireland (1856) I. 192 The Pow'r that led great William, Boyne's reddening torrent thro',—In his protecting aid confide, and every foe defy—Then put your trust in God, my boys, and keep your powder dry.] 1845 Disraeli Sybil i. iv, ‘I have great faith in your canvassing,..but still, at the same time, the powder and shot—’ ‘Are essential’, said Lady Marney, ‘I know it, in these corrupt days’. [1856 E. Hayes Ballads of Ireland (ed. 2) I. 191 There is a well-authenticated anecdote of Cromwell. On a certain occasion, when his troops were about crossing a river to attack the enemy, he concluded an address, couched in the usual fanatic terms in use among them, with these words—‘put your trust in God; but mind to keep your powder dry’.] 1908 Times Lit. Suppl. 5 Nov. 383/1 In thus keeping his powder dry the bishop acted most wisely, though he himself ascribes the happy result entirely to observance of the other half of Cromwell's maxim. 1931 F. L. Allen Only Yesterday ii. 40 An inheritor of Theodore Roosevelt's creed of fearing God and keeping your powder dry. 1948 A. Toynbee Civilization on Trial x. 193 A ‘Zealotism’ tempered by a belief in keeping his powder dry. 1954 C. P. Snow New Men ii. 17 It doesn't sound like business for this time. Still it won't do any harm to watch out and keep our powder dry. 1955 Times 6 Aug. 5/1 It is clear that M. Faure, to judge by what he did not say today, is keeping his powder dry. 1968 Listener 27 June 833/3, I seem to have been resigned most of my poetic life to the virtues of keeping one's powder dry rather than trying to fire the big guns. |
† 4. Her. (
pl.) Spots or minor charges with which the field is ‘powdered’ (see
powder v.
1 4).
| 1562 Leigh Armorie 131 The sixth doublyng is called Pean, whiche is the field Sable, and the pouders Or. |
5. attrib. and
Comb. a. General
Combs. (chiefly in sense 3), as
attrib.,
powder-barrel,
powder-canister,
powder-dust,
powder-maker,
powder mark,
powder-measure,
powder scales,
powder-smoke; instrumental, as
powder-black,
powder-charged,
powder-dry,
powder-grey,
powder-laden,
powder-light,
powder-like,
powder-marked,
powder-pocked,
powder-scorched,
powder-stained,
powder-tinged adjs.; (sense 2 d)
powder bowl;
powder-dusted adj.| 1769 *Powder-barrel [see powder-bag]. 1863 Dicey Federal St. II. 12 Children play with lucifer-matches amongst powder-barrels. |
| 1857 Thornbury Songs Cavaliers & Roundh. 20 *Powder-black, bleeding lads, hungry and torn. |
| 1919 in G. Howell In Vogue (1975) 34/1 Porcelain *powder bowls, for dusting powder. 1930 ‘R. Crompton’ William's Happy Days ix. 218 Powder bowls and dolls and cushions. 1972 Daily Tel. 10 Oct. 13 Today's young people hardly know what a rose-bowl is, and few possess a cut-glass powder-bowl for loose powder and feathery puff. |
| 1889 Pall Mall G. 16 Jan. 7/3 The cost and weight of guns to fire such *powder-charged shells would be so enormous. |
| 1934 T. Wood Cobbers xvi. 215 They worked themselves *powder-dry. 1942 W. Faulkner Go down, Moses 100 The pale, powder-light, powder-dry dust of August. |
| 1563 T. Hill Art Garden. (1593) 71 They will spring in any ground, and bee nurished in fine earth like to *pouder dust. |
| 1917 V. Woolf Mark on Wall in Two Stories 20 The miniature of a lady with white powdered curls, *powder-dusted cheeks, and lips like red carnations. |
| 1901 Daily Chron. 7 Sept. 8/3 *Powder-grey and thistle-purple sackcloth are two of his present lures. |
| 1812 Sir J. Sinclair Syst. Husb. Scot. i. 178 The land in a *powder-like state. |
| 1579 Reg. Privy Council Scot. III. 205 Quheill makaris, smythis, and *powder makaris. 1711 Lond. Gaz. No. 4829/4 Henry Bosseville of Hounslow,..Powder-maker. |
| 1937 D. & H. Teilhet Feather Cloak Murders i. 14 The revolver bullet left a clean hole when shot close, always with *powder marks. 1975 G. Lyall Judas Country ix. 68 If I'd been faking a suicide, I'd've put the gun in a more obvious place. Anyway, can't you test his hand for powder marks? |
| 1892 Greener Breech-Loader 176 Adjust the *powder measure, put the powder into a basin, take up a full measure. |
| 1976 Shooting Times & Country Mag. 16–22 Dec. 30/1 Whereas almost every large, local gun-dealer stocks reloading machines, very few stock *powder scales. |
| 1857 Thornbury Songs Cavaliers 19 Jenkin was *powder-scorched, black as a Turk. |
| 1905 T. Collins in Murdoch & Drake-Brockman Austral. Short Stories (1951) 16 The explosion came off, nearly smothering me with *powder-smoke. |
| 1899 Crockett Kit Kennedy 321 The befizzled, *powder-tinged attendant. |
b. Special
Combs.:
powder base = foundation cream s.v. foundation 7 d; also (with hyphen)
attrib.;
† powder-beater, a pounder of spices, etc. (see sense 2 c);
powder beef, powdered or salted beef;
powder-blower (see
quot.);
powder-burn, a burn made by the hot gases emitted by a firearm; so
powder-burn v. trans.;
powder cake, a block of compressed face-powder;
powder-cart, a covered cart for carrying gunpowder for artillery;
powder chamber, (
a) the cavity in a gun which contains the charge of powder; (
b) an underground chamber in which gunpowder and bombs are stored;
powder closet obs. exc. hist., a small room formerly used for powdering hair or wigs;
powder colour, (
a) an opaque water-colour in powder form; (
b) (see
quot. 1966);
powder compact = compact n.2 e;
† powder-corn, a grain of gunpowder;
powder division, a division of the crew of a man-of-war detailed to supply ammunition during action;
† powder ermine, ? the white fur of the ermine ‘powdered’ with black spots (
cf. ermine n. 2, 4, and
powder v.
1 5);
powder-flag, the red flag carried by a
powder-hoy, or hoisted on a ship when taking in or discharging gunpowder;
powder gas, the gas evolved in the explosion of gunpowder;
powder-gun, (
a)
= powder-blower, insect-
gun; (
b) a gun in which gunpowder is used, as distinguished from an airgun;
powder-hose, a fuse for firing a mine, consisting of a tube of strong linen filled with a combustible;
powder-house, a building for storing gunpowder; also
fig.; so
powder-house-keeper;
powder-hoy (see
quot.);
† powder-instrument, a fire-arm;
powder keg, a small barrel or container for holding gun powder or blasting powder; also
fig.;
powder-knife, a blunt knife formerly used to scrape off hair-powder from the skin;
powder-lime, lime in the state of powder, powdered lime;
powder magazine, a place where gunpowder is stored in a fort or on board ship:
= magazine n. 2 b; also
fig.;
powder metallurgy, the branch of metallurgy which is concerned with the production of metals as fine powders and their subsequent pressing and sintering into compact forms; hence
powder-metallurgical a.;
powder metallurgist;
powder-mill, a mill for making gunpowder;
powder-mine, a mine (
mine n. 3) filled with gunpowder;
powder paint = powder colour (
a);
powder-paper, paper impregnated with chlorate and other salts of potassium, powdered charcoal, and a little starch, used as a substitute for gunpowder;
powder pattern, (
a)
Cryst. (see 5 c below); (
b) a pattern indicative of the domain structure of a magnetized solid, formed when a colloidal magnetic powder is allowed to settle on it;
powder-plot (now
rare), the
gunpowder plot; so
powder-plotter,
powder-plotting a.;
† powder-poke = powder-bag;
powder-post = powder of post (see 2 e);
powder-post beetle, a small brown beetle belonging to the family Lyctidæ, the larva of which bores tunnels in seasoned timber, reducing it to powder;
powder-pot = fire-pot a;
powder-prover, an apparatus for measuring the explosive force of gunpowder, an éprouvette;
powder rag, a piece of cloth used for applying face powder;
powder-scuttle, a small opening in the deck of a ship for conveying gunpowder from the powder-room;
powder-shoot, ‘a canvas tube for conveying empty powder-boxes from the gun-deck of a ship to a lower deck’ (
Cent. Dict.);
† powder-shop, a shop for the sale of hair-powder and other cosmetics, a perfumer's shop;
powder slope, a slope covered in powder snow;
powder-spot, a spot on the skin produced by gunpowder (
cf. gunpowder spot s.v. gunpowder 4);
powder sugar, sugar in the form of powder, powdered or crushed sugar; hence
† powder-sugar v. (
obs. nonce-wd.), to sprinkle with powder sugar (or some similar substance);
powder-tax, a tax upon hair-powder;
† powder-traitor, one of the conspirators in the ‘powder-treason’;
† powder-treason (
= gunpowder treason), the Gunpowder plot;
powder-trier = powder-prover. Also
powder-bag, etc.
| 1927–8 T. Eaton & Co. Catal. Fall & Winter 367 A greaseless Vanishing Cream, for use as a protective or *powder base. 1932 [see base n.1 11 b]. 1955 M. Allingham Beckoning Lady iv. 66 A good foundation of that powder-base stuff. 1972 Vogue 1 Mar. 52/1 An ideal powder-base—inimitable beneath modern make-up to ensure a flawless, perfectly matt finish. |
| 1455 in Househ. Ord. (1790) 20* Th'office of the Spicery..Alexandre Rowton, Yoman *Pouderbeter. 1601 Ibid. 295 The Yeoman powder-beater hath for his fees, all the bagges and boxes,..and all the barrells once emptied. |
| 1606 Wily Beguiled in Hazl. Dodsley IX. 291 My *powder-beef-slave, I'll have a rump of beef for thee. a 1660 Contemp. Hist. Irel. (Ir. Archæol. Soc.) I. 110 A world of carts and wagonns, loaden with powder-beefe. |
| 1875 Knight Dict. Mech., *Powder-blower, an instrument for blowing powder on to plants or into crevices infested by insects. 1884 Ibid. Supp., Powder Blower. (Surgical.) An instrument for blowing a powder upon a part. |
| 1846 J. W. Webb Altowan I. iv. 125 He might *powder-burn the bear by the nearness of the shot. 1847 in H. Howe Hist. Coll. Ohio 99 In this struggle, Lytle..had..his face powder burnt. 1927 Scribner's Mag. Feb. 176/2 In the pursuit, the Rangers literally carried out their leader's orders to ‘powder-burn’ them. 1969 G. Macbeth War Quartet 72 With his gun One braised his leg three times. The doctor saw Powder-burns there, and left him. 1975 M. Babson There must be Some Mistake xx. 182 You have gloves... Put them on now. The only powder burns must be found on those two that the police may re-enact the scene. |
| 1961 ‘A. A. Fair’ Stop at Red Light (1962) v. 82 Parts of a *powder cake were on the floor, and bits of glass from the broken mirror. |
| 1848 Lowell Biglow P. Ser. i. vii. v, But civlyzation does git forrid Sometimes upon a *powder⁓cart. 1899 T. S. Baldock Cromwell as Soldier 92 A passing powder-cart blew up. |
| 1803 Jrnl. Natural Philos. IV. 251 As soon as the lever has arrived at the position N, the *powder chamber P is exactly opposite the ball, and ready to be discharged against it. 1890 W. J. Gordon Foundry 18 The powder-chamber will..hold a charge of 900 lb. Ibid. 23 In all breechloaders..the powder-chamber is larger than the bore of the gun. |
| 1905 Pall Mall Mag. Dec. 746/1 Violante..lay dozing in the *powder closet which opened out of Donna Carlotta's bedroom. 1927 Daily Express 12 Dec. 4 Methley Park..has one or two unusual features, however; and among these are some queer old powder closets. 1929 S. Ertz Galaxy i. 11 The house contained a powder-closet for the dressing of ladies' hair in earlier days. 1980 Country Life 28 Feb. 609/1 The emergence of indecencies from the powder closet to the respectable page. |
| 1862 Illustr. Catal. Internat. Exhib., Industr. Dept., Brit. Div. II. No. 5512 Colours prepared for missal-painting, and illumination in soluble *powder-colour. 1913 R. Fry Let. 28 Dec. (1972) II. 376 Grind up your powder colours in water very stiffly and use with the yolks of eggs. 1963 S. Marshall Exper. in Educ. iii. 88 Powder colour has proved its worth. 1966 J. S. Cox Illustr. Dict. Hairdressing 121/1 Powder-colour, colour rinses in powder form. |
| 1927 *Powder compact. [see compact n.2 e]. 1937 D. L. Sayers Busman's Honeymoon xv. 259 He laid a powder-compact aside on the what-not. 1978 Cornish Guardian 27 Apr. 32/4 The new president, Mrs. Tippitt, presented Mrs. M. Williams, the retiring president, with a powder compact. |
| 1610 B. Jonson Alch. i. i, Your complexion..Stuck full of black, and melancholique wormes, Like *poulder-cornes, shot, at th' artillerie-yard. |
| 1534 in Peacock Eng. Ch. Furniture (1866) 207 A mantell for our lady of cloth of tysseu purfild aboute w *powther armyn. 1536 Wriothesley Chron. (Camden) I. 45 A robe of crimson velvett furred with poudre ermyns. |
| 1872 Preble Hist. Flag (1880) 676 A *Powder Flag—A plain red flag hoisted at the fore, denoting the vessel is taking in or discharging powder. |
| 1890 W. J. Gordon Foundry 21 To prevent the escape of *powder gas an elastic steel cap is fitted on the front of the breech-screw. |
| 1890 Cent. Dict., *Powder-gun, an instrument for diffusing insect-powder. |
| 1832 Southey Hist. Penins. War III. 420 A communication [was] formed to them with *powder hoses placed between tiles. 1834–47 J. S. Macaulay Field Fortif. (1851) 199 Two powder-hoses may be placed within 18 inches of one another, if covered with earth, and produce separate explosions. |
| 1720 in Mass. House of Representatives Jrnl. (1921) II. 288 Daniel Powning, keeper of the *Powder-House. 1774 Chron. in Ann. Reg. 157/2 A party of troops took possession of the powder in the powder house. 1848 Knickerbocker XVIII. 216 The powder house, the pound, the poor-house and the county-house, are all objects of notice to the traveller. 1928 Manch. Guardian Weekly 7 Sept. 181/4 The spark that fired this powder⁓house was a letter protesting against the ‘constant criticism’ of the methods of Lancashire cricketers. |
| 1789 Rec. Early Hist. Boston (1886) X. 183 Foster Thomas, *powder-house-keeper. |
| 1867 Smyth Sailor's Word-bk., *Powder-hoy, an ordnance vessel expressly fitted to convey powder from the land magazine to a ship; it invariably carries a red distinguishing flag. |
| 1613 Wither Abuses Stript ii. iv. S iv b, The Law, that now preuents, And bars the vse of *pouder Instruments. |
| 1855 W. G. Simms Forayers iii. 39 Sinclair..drew up an old *powder-keg by a rope-hitch, which had been made about it. 1876 ‘Mark Twain’ Tom Sawyer xxxii. 323 It was the treasure-box..along with an empty powder-keg, a couple of guns in leather cases,..a leather belt, and some other rubbish. 1893 W. K. Post Harvard Stories 6 One reason why they do it..is to make you flare up, you little powder keg. 1945 Richmond (Va.) News-Leader 17 Sept. 7/2 (heading) Argentina's militarist regime believed sitting on powderkeg. 1972 Publishers' Weekly 24 Jan. 21 His stories weeks before the revolt warned of the powderkeg inside the prison. 1975 Publ. Amer. Dial. Soc. 1973 lix. 47 Powder keg.., a round, metal container for blasting powder, usually of twenty-five pounds capacity. |
| 1806–7 J. Beresford Miseries Hum. Life (ed. 7) 243 Using a *powder-knife which has so broad an edge that it grounds the powder into your skin. |
| 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. §185, I..tried a quantity of *powder-lime that had fallen from a stone imperfectly burnt. |
| 1769 *Powder magazine [see powder-bag]. 1864 Bowen Logic ix. 311 To remove a lighted match from its dangerous proximity to a powder-magazine. 1890 Kipling Departm. Ditties (ed. 4) 98 You shouldn't take a man from Canada And bid him smoke in powder-magazines. 1933 J. Buchan Prince of Captivity ii. ii. 196 Birkpool is..becoming a powder magazine. 1979 G. Latta tr. Jacquemard-Sénécal's Eleventh Little Nigger ii. iv. 94 The reunion of the four of them..would constitute a sort of powder-magazine: one spark and the magazine blows up. 1980 Alexander & Anand Queen Victoria's Maharajah i. 11 A lucky hit on the powder magazine. |
| 1949 Electronic Engin. XXI. 88/1 The production of intricate structures is due to the fact that moulding powders are now made by *powder-metallurgical processes. 1975 Bram & Downs Manuf. Technol. iii. 79 Cemented carbides are a typical powder metallurgical product. |
| 1949 C. G. Goetzel Treat. Powder Metall. I. p. vii, The final chapter of Part One covers briefly the many uses for metal powders that are somewhat beyond the sphere of interest of the *powder metallurgist. 1954 H. Udin et al. Welding for Engineers iii. 39 This process of spheroidization of pores or inclusions has been of great interest to powder metallurgists. |
| 1933 Engin. & Mining Jrnl. CXXXIV. 373/1 What is frequently referred to as ‘*powder metallurgy’ had its beginnings at the turn of the century when the metals tungsten and molybdenum first became commercial commodities. 1959 Listener 12 Mar. 453/1 Coolidge in America developed the process now known as powder metallurgy, by which a bar of compressed tungsten powder was sintered at a temperature below the melting point of the metal. 1970 New Scientist 12 Nov. 325/1 Powder metallurgy is commonly used to make precision components, and to fabricate exotic materials. |
| 1650 R. Stapylton Strada's Low C. Warres vii. 40 These *Powder-Milles used to be distant from Townes. 1856 Emerson Eng. Traits, Times Wks. (Bohn) II. 118 We walked with some circumspection, as if we were entering a powder-mill. |
| c 1622 Ford, etc. Witch Edmonton v. i, Like a swift *Powder-Mine beneath the world, Up would I blow it. |
| 1939 L. de Lissa Life in Nursery School ix. 158 *Powder paints are cheap and suitable and can be obtained in good colours. 1955 E. Blishen Roaring Boys i. 33 How should I learn to distinguish between different types of brush, to mix powder paint? 1973 Galt Toys Catal. 49 Powder paint set..mix up a small quantity with water as required. |
| 1884 Knight Dict. Mech. Supp., *Powder Paper, a substitute for gunpowder, invented in England... It is 5–16 stronger than gunpowder. |
| 1934 Physical Rev. XLVI. 227 (caption) *Powder patterns with H normal to the surface. 1951 L. F. Bates Mod. Magn. (ed. 3) xii. 457 The main method of studying domain structure is undoubtedly the Bitter figure or powder pattern method. 1965 Craik & Tebble Ferromagnetism & Ferromagnetic Domains 308 The first stage in the preparation of colloids or suspensions for the powder pattern or Bitter figure technique, is the production of magnetite (Fe3O4) in a very finely divided state. |
| 1616 B. Jonson Epigrams xcii, Of the *poulder-plot, they will talke yet. 1687–8 in Swayne Sarum Churchw. Acc. (1896) 348, 5{supt}{suph} Nov. being y⊇ Powder Plott. 1837 Carlyle Fr. Rev. I. v. viii, Levelled Cannon, Guy-Faux powder-plots (for that too was spoken of). |
| 1614 Jackson Creed iii. xxxii. §3 If *powder-plotters, or publique Assasinates may be dignified with titles of Saints. |
| 1653 Baxter Worc. Petit. Def. 34 *Powder Plotting Papists. |
| 1532 Acc. L.H. Tr. Scot. VI. 155 Item, deliverit to thame [gunners] vj *pulder pokis. 1538 Ibid. VII. 112 For polder pokis of violat to lay amang the Kingis claithis. |
| 1927 Bull. U.S. Dept. Agric. No. 1490, 7 *Powder post is that class of defects in which the larvae of insects reduce the wood fibers of seasoned or partially seasoned wood to a powderlike condition. |
| 1905 Yearbk. U.S. Dept. Agric. 1904 387 (caption) Work of *powder post beetle..in hickory poles. 1911 Technical Ser. Bureau Entomol., U.S. Dept. Agric. XX. iii. 111 (title) A revision of the powder-post beetles of the family Lyctidæ of the United States and Europe. 1928 Forestry II. 42 The sapwood..has been reduced to a finely powdered, floury condition—the characteristic damage that gives the name of ‘powder-post beetles’ to the Lyctus species. 1963 B.S.I. News Mar. 6/1 The third British Standard will describe a test for determining the toxicity of wood preservatives to the powder post beetle, Lyctus brunneus. 1975 G. Evans Life of Beetles iv. 94 Lyctidae, the powder post beetles (e.g. Lyctus spp.), have larvae which produce a very fine powdery dust. |
| 1638 Sir T. Herbert Trav. (ed. 2) 116 The Portugalls..throwing on them such and so many Granadoes and burning fire-balls, *powder-pots, and scalding Lead. |
| 1875 Knight Dict. Mech., *Powder-prover. See Ballistic Pendulum; Eprouvette. |
| 1904 ‘O. Henry’ in McClure's Mag. Aug. 352/2 This stake comes in handier than a *powder rag at a fat man's ball. 1906 ― Four Million (1916) 21 Delia finished her cry and attended to her cheeks with the powder rag. a 1911 D. G. Phillips Susan Lenox (1917) II. ii. 33 Susan..safeguarded her nose against shine; she tucked the powder rag into the stocking. |
| 1687 T. Brown Lib. of Consc. in Dk. Buckhm.'s Wks. (1705) II. 129 You think my Trade a Nuisance, I like it better, than a *Powder-Shop. |
| 1972 D. Haston In High Places xi. 115, I could put this [failure] out of my mind swooping around the *powder slopes. |
| 1721 Lond. Gaz. No. 5957/3 A blue *Powder-Spot under his Left Eye. |
| 1624 Althorp MS. p. lvi. in Simpkinson Washingtons (1860) App., *Powther sugar 2 barrells. 1707 Curios. in Husb. & Gard. 103 The Juices taken from Sugar-Canes are thicken'd, to make Powder Sugar. |
| 1654 Gayton Pleas. Notes iii. iii. 84 She *powder-sugar'd it with a little burnt Allum. |
| 1794 J. Moser (title) The Meal Tub Plot; or, Remarks on the *Powder Tax, by a Barber. 1861 Thornbury Turner (1862) I. 163 The powder-tax that the Tories imposed in 1795..drove out wigs. |
| 1614 Sylvester Parl. Vertues Royall Wks. (Grosart) II. 123 An Act against King-Killers, *Powder-Traitors, and their Abetters. 1731 T. Cox Magna Brit. VI. 228/2 His Zeal in apprehending..the Powder Traitors. |
| 1607 Hieron Wks. I. 442 An euident instant whereof we haue had in the *powder-treason; a deuice, which a man would thinke the diuell himselfe should be ashamed to father. 1769 Blackstone Comm. IV. iv. 57 The powder-treason..struck a panic into James I. which operated in different ways. |
| 1667 Sir R. Moray in Phil. Trans. II. 476 The Strength of the Powder must be examin'd by a *Powder-Tryer. 1781 Thompson ibid. LXXI. 298 All the eprouvettes, or powder-triers, in common use are defective. |
c. With reference to the Debye-Scherrer method of X-ray crystallography (see
Debye), as
powder camera,
powder diffraction,
powder pattern,
powder photograph,
powder photography.
| 1917 Physical Rev. X. 664 The powder photographs have an advantage..over ionization-chamber measurements, in that the intensities of reflection from different planes, as well as different orders, are directly comparable. 1924 R. W. G. Wyckoff Struct. Crystals vi. 178 The spectrum lines which result from these reflections of monochromatic X-rays constitute a powder photograph. Ibid., Such a powder pattern can be greatly simplified by filtering the X-rays to render them essentially monochromatic. Ibid., The outstanding advantage of powder diffraction methods obviously lies in their ability to treat the many crystalline materials which do not grow large single crystals. Ibid. 185 A more extended description of these procedures is not justified because thus far they have found little application to powder photography. 1936 Jrnl. R. Aeronaut. Soc. XL. 411 The powder photograph is..a powerful means of recognising alloy phases. 1945 C. W. Bunn Chem. Crystallogr. v. 109 A powder camera consists essentially of an aperture system to define the X-ray beam, a holder for the specimen, and a framework for holding the photographic film. 1948 K. Lonsdale Crystals & X-Rays iii. 76 For powder photography monochromatic radiation is used..but the specimen is a mass of tiny crystals orientated in all directions. 1962 Times 4 Sept. 2/6 There are four X-ray generating sets and accessory equipment includes powder cameras. 1965 Adams & Raynor Advanced Pract. Inorg. Chem. xvii. 155 The intersection of a curved strip of film with these diffraction cones gives the familiar powder photograph, which consists of a series of curved lines. 1969 B. E. Warren X-Ray Diffraction v. 67 Powder patterns are very often used for a precision measurement of the crystal axes. |
▪ II. ˈpowder, n.2 Obs. exc. dial. Also 7
pouder, 9
dial. pooder.
[Origin unascertained. Identity with powder1 is, from the sense, improbable; the phonology separates it from pother.] An impetus, a rush; force, impetuosity. Chiefly in
phr. with (dial. at, in) a powder, impetuously, violently.
| c 1600 Club Law (1907) iii. iv. 1295 Ile sett you in with a powder. ([Stage direction] hee fells him.) ? 1640 New Sermon of newest Fashion (1877) 39 If I might have my will itt should goe downe with a pouder. 1650 Fuller Pisgah v. v. 151 Jordan..comes down with a powder, and at set times overflowes all his bankes. 1663 Waterhouse Comm. Fortescue 515 Then in came the French, with a powder as we say, and everything was done and said a la mode de France. 1678 Butler Hud. iii. i. 1055 When th' heard a knocking at the Gate, Laid on in hast with such a powder, The blows grew louder still and louder. c 1780 in S. Gilpin Songs (Cumbld.) (1866) 275 Heame set he in a powder. 1878 Cumberld. Gloss., Pooder, hurry: Off he went in sic a pooder. 1898 B. Kirkby Lakeland Words s.v., He was gaan at a tremendous pooder. |
▪ III. ˈpowder, v.1 Forms: see
powder n.1 [a. F. poudre-r to cover with powder (13th c. in Hatz.-Darm.), f. poudre: see powder n.1 In some senses, prob. immediately from the Eng. n.] I. To sprinkle or treat with powder, or something in the state of powder.
† 1. a. trans. To sprinkle (food) with a condiment of powdery nature; to season, spice.
Obs.| c 1305 Land Cokaygne 110 Þe leuerokes..Liȝtiþ adun to manis muþ..Pudrid wiþ gilofre and canel. a 1440 Sir Degrev. 1402 Seththe sche brouȝt hom in haste, Ploverys poudryd in paste. |
† b. fig. To mix with some qualifying or modifying ingredient; to ‘season’; to ‘alloy’.
Obs.| a 1300 Sarmun vii. in E.E.P. (1862) 2 Þi felle wiþ-oute nis bot a sakke ipudrid ful wiþ drit and ding. c 1380 Wyclif Serm. Sel. Wks. I. 58 All þis speche is poudrid with gabbinge. 1534 Tindale Col. iv. 6 Let youre speache be all wayes well favoured and be powdred with salt. a 1586 Sidney Arcadia (1622) 270 Framed to him a very thankefull message, powdring it with some hope-giuing phrases. a 1661 Fuller Worthies, Berks. (1662) 98 Powdering their lives with improbable passages, to the great prejudice of truth. 1790 Burke Fr. Rev. Wks. V. 140 The opiate potion of amnesty, powdered with all the ingredients of scorn. |
2. a. To sprinkle the flesh of animals with salt or powdered spice,
esp. for preserving; to salt; to ‘corn’; to cure. ?
Obs. exc. dial.| 1389 Durham Acc. Rolls (Surtees) 49 In ij salmon poudrt, ijs. xd. a 1483 Liber Niger in Househ. Ord. (1790) 46 In beef daily or moton, fresh, or elles all poudred is more availe, 5d. 1542 Boorde Dyetary xvi. (1870) 271 Olde beefe..moderatly powderyd, that the groose blode by salte may be exhaustyd. 1553 Eden Treat. Newe Ind. (Arb.) 27 Inuoluinge with cereclothe and pouderinge with spyces the body. 1555 W. Watreman Fardle Facions i. vi. 98 Thei poudre them [Locustes] with salte, and..liue by none other foode. 1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. iii. (1586) 153 The Tubbes that you poulder in, must bee such as haue had Oyle in. a 1661 Fuller Worthies, Cornwall (1662) 194 Imploying a power of poor people..in Powdering, and Drying them [Pilchards]. 1715 Prior Down-Hall 79 She roasted red veal, and she powder'd lean beef. c 1830 Mrs. Sherwood in Houlston Tracts III. No. 81. 4 My good girl,..just powder me that ham, or dish me those turnips. |
† b. fig. To preserve, keep, store
up.
Obs.| 1614 R. Tailor Hog Hath Lost Pearl i. i. B iij, If you haue powdred vp my plot in your sconce, you may home sir. 1654 Fuller Two Serm. 27 All Spirituall Meat is not..for our present spending and feeding thereon, but (as good Husbands) we are to powder up some for the time to come. 1660 tr. Amyraldus' Treat. conc. Relig. iii. vi. 434 That horrible Leviathan which is powder'd up I know not where against the manifestation of the Messias. |
3. a. To sprinkle powder upon; to besprinkle or cover
with or as
with some powdery substance. (In first
quot., to sprinkle with dust.)
| c 1350 Story of Holy Rood 117 in Leg. Rood (1871) 65 Þou sal..Fall to erth and powder þe, And pray god haue mercy on me. c 1440 Promp. Parv. 411/1 Powderyd wythe powder, pulverizatus. 1563 T. Hill Art Garden. (1593) 31 Which lightly couer or poulder with earth in that place where they most swarm. 1667 Milton P.L. vii. 581 The Galaxie, that Milkie way Which nightly as a circling Zone thou seest Pouderd with Starrs. 1883 Symonds Ital. Byways i. 1 Ridges powdered with light snow. 1899 Allbutt's Syst. Med. VIII. 870 It is a good plan after washing the feet to powder them..with boric acid. |
b. To apply powder to (the hair, etc.) as a cosmetic. Also with the person as
obj.; also
absol. or intr. for refl. Phr.
to powder one's nose, used also
euphem. (with reference to a woman) for ‘to go to the lavatory’.
| 1599 [see powdering vbl. n. 1]. 1609 B. Jonson Sil. Wom. i. i, Still to be pou'dred, still perfum'd. 1633 Ford Love's Sacr. ii. i, She shall no oftener powder her hair, surfell her cheeks, cleanse her teeth. 1711 Steele Spect. No. 2 ¶2 He has his shoes rubb'd and his Perriwig powder'd at the Barber's. 1810 Splendid Follies I. 10 Edward and William were scrubbing and powdering to mount behind. 1870 Dickens E. Drood iii, ‘A red nose..she can always powder it’. ‘She would scorn to powder it’, says Edwin. 1883 Century Mag. XXVII. 5 [One] who was not highly rouged and powdered. 1921 W. S. Maugham Circle i. 28, I must powder my nose, Hughie. 1924 E. O'Neill Welded ii. 137 You'll want to go upstairs and powder your nose. 1927 S. Ertz Now East, now West xvii. 261 She put no colour on her face,..which, if she powdered and didn't even redden her lips, always made people ask her if she were ill. 1930 A. Bennett Imperial Palace lvi. 417 That's the bathroom and so on... You can hang your overcoat in there—and powder your nose. 1938 I. Goldberg Wonder of Words vi. 108 We are invited to wash our hands, or, if we wear dresses, to powder our noses. 1962 Guardian 5 Dec. 6/5 Useful information..about where to park..dine, stay overnight, and—for women—powder one's nose in comfort. 1969 R. T. Wilcox Dict. Costume (1970) 88/1 Venetian gentlemen also painted, powdered and patched. 1972 L. P. Davies What did I do Tomorrow? 72 I'll use your bathroom. To powder my nose, as nice girls say. |
c. To whiten (a fabric) by application of some white powdered substance.
| 1890 Cent. Dict. s.v., Lace which has grown yellow is powdered by being placed in a packet of white lead and beaten. |
4. a. In heraldry and decorative art: To strew with a multitude of (isolated) small objects or figures of the same kind; to ornament with spots or small devices scattered over the surface; to sprinkle or spangle (a surface, etc.)
with. Also
fig. Usually in
pa. pple.| 13.. Test. Christi 221 (Vernon MS.) in Herrig Archiv LXXIX. 432 A cote-armour I bar wiþ me..Poudret wiþ fyue roses rede. c 1430 Syr Gener. (Roxb.) 5680 The champe of the feld was goules, Thik y-poudred with smale foules. 1490 Caxton Eneydos xv. 54 The erthe taketh a newe cote..of fyn gras, powdred with floures of a hundred thousande maners of colours. 1536 Regr. Riches in Antiq. Sarisb. (1771) 198 Many copes, powdered with Lyons Ostrages Troifoils, Flower de Luces and dyvers Armes, in number sixteen. 1580 Hollyband Treas. Fr. Tong, Vn Chamarre broché de pourpre, a garment poudred with purple studdes. 1612 Drayton Poly-olb. xv. 164 Nature..Who seemes in that her pearle [the daisy] so greatly to delight That euery Plaine therewith she powdreth to beholde. 1717 Berkeley Tour Italy 21 May, Delicious vineyards, gardens, &c., powdered with little white houses. 1766 Entick London IV. 415 Gold shoes powdered with pearls. 1882 Hare in Gd. Words Mar. 180 Soon the whole country becomes powdered with ruins. |
b. With the decorative objects as subject.
| 1867 ‘Ouida’ C. Castlemaine (1879) 17 Daisies powdering the turf sodden with human blood. |
II. 5. To sprinkle or scatter like powder; to strew here and there in a multitude of minute particles; to disperse here and there upon a surface, as a number of small ornamental figures repeated. Usually in
pa. pple. (Correlative to 4.)
| 13.. E.E. Allit. P. A. 44 Gilofre, gyngure & gromylyoun, And pyonys powdered ay betwene. 1483 Act 1 Rich. III, c. 8 Preamble, The Sellers of such course Clothes..usen for to powder and cast Flokkys of fynner Cloth upon the same. 1513 Douglas æneis xii. ii. 40 Or quhar the schene lilleis in ony steid War pulderit wyth the vermel rosis reid. 1603 Owen Pembrokeshire iv. (1892) 40 As for the Irishmen they are soe powdred among the Inhabitaunts..that in euerye village you shall find the thirde, fourth, or fift housholder an Irishman. 1744 J. Paterson Comm. Milton's P.L. 374 Prodigious clusters of small stars,..poudered or cast close together, as it were dust sprinkled upon a floor. 1890 Cent. Dict. s.v., To powder violets on a silk ground. |
III. To reduce or fall down to powder.
6. To reduce to powder; to pulverize.
| 15.. in Vicary's Anat. (1888) App. ix. 223 Lett all these be pouldered small, and cersed [sifted] fynely. 1605 Timme Quersit. i. vii. 33 The which pouldred he prescribeth to be taken in a reale egg. 1718 Quincy Compl. Disp. 11 In the powdering such things as Jallop, Ipecacuanha, and the like. 1862 Stanley Jew. Ch. (1877) I. iv. 74 The vast enclosure of its brick walls..now almost powdered into dust. |
7. intr. To fall to powder, become pulverized.
| 1846 Worcester, Powder, v.n. to fall to dust. 1864 Webster, Powder, v.i.,..to become like powder; as, some salts powder easily. |
IV. † 8. trans. To charge with gunpowder;
cf. powdered 5.
Obs. rare.
| 1643 Public Confider 8 Not with..powdering our guns. |
▪ IV. ˈpowder, v.2 colloq. and
dial. [f. powder n.2] intr. To rush; to hurry with impetuosity and rushing speed: said
esp. of a rider.
| 1632 Quarles Div. Fancies i. lxvii, Zacheus climb'd the Tree: But O how fast,..(when Our Saviour called) he powder'd down agen! c 1645 Tullie Siege of Carlisle (1840) 33 About 800 horse..come powdering towards the Cowes so fast. 1684 Otway Atheist iii. i, The Dice powd'ring out of the Box. 1694 R. L'Estrange Fables 3 Down comes a kite powdering upon them in the interim, and gobbles up both together. 1804 M. Edgeworth Ennui vi, You'll take four [horses]..and you'll see how we'll powder along. 1857 Thornbury Songs Cavaliers & Roundh. 115 And powdering fast, the men and horses Thundering swept down Frampton Hill. 1895 A. Forbes Mem. of War & Peace i. 13 All Belgrade, feverish for further news, rushed out into the street as I powdered along. |
b. transf. and
fig.| a 1734 North Lives (1826) III. 47 The refusal came powdering from him by wholesale. 1838 Dickens Nich. Nick. xxxix, ‘I think I see 'un now, a powderin' awa' at the thin bread an' butther’. |