Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Powder

Pow′der

,
Noun.
[OE.
poudre
,
pouldre
, F.
poudre
, OF. also
poldre
,
puldre
, L.
pulvis
,
pulveris
: cf.
pollen
fine flour, mill dust, E.
pollen
. Cf.
Polverine
,
Pulverize
.]
1.
The fine particles to which any dry substance is reduced by pounding, grinding, or triturating, or into which it falls by decay; dust.
Grind their bones to
powder
small.
Shakespeare
2.
An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.; gunpowder. See
Gunpowder
.
Atlas powder
,
Baking powder
,
etc. See under
Atlas
,
Baking
, etc.
–
Powder down
(Zool.)
,
the peculiar dust, or exfoliation, of powder-down feathers.
–
Powder-down feather
(Zool.)
,
one of a peculiar kind of modified feathers which sometimes form patches on certain parts of some birds. They have a greasy texture and a scaly exfoliation.
–
Powder-down patch
(Zool.)
,
a tuft or patch of powder-down feathers.
–
Powder hose
,
a tube of strong linen, about an inch in diameter, filled with powder and used in firing mines.
Farrow.
–
Powder hoy
(Naut.)
,
a vessel specially fitted to carry powder for the supply of war ships. They are usually painted red and carry a red flag.
–
Powder magazine
, or
Powder room
.
See
Magazine
, 2.
–
Powder mine
,
a mine exploded by gunpowder. See
Mine
.
–
Powder monkey
(Naut.)
,
a boy formerly employed on war vessels to carry powder; a powder boy.
–
Powder post
.
See
Dry rot
, under
Dry
.
–
Powder puff
.
See
Puff
,
Noun.

Pow′der

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Powdered
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Powdering
.]
[F.
poudrer
.]
1.
To reduce to fine particles; to pound, grind, or rub into a powder; to comminute; to pulverize; to triturate.
2.
To sprinkle with powder, or as with powder; to be sprinkle;
as, to
powder
the hair
.
A circling zone thou seest
Powdered
with stars.
Milton.
3.
To sprinkle with salt; to corn, as meat.
[Obs.]

Pow′der

,
Verb.
I.
1.
To be reduced to powder; to become like powder;
as, some salts
powder
easily
.
2.
To use powder on the hair or skin;
as, she paints and
powders
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Powder

POW'DER

,
Noun.
[L. pulvis.]
1.
Any dry substance composed of minute particles, whether natural or artificial; more generally, a substance comminuted or triturated to fine particles. Thus dust is the powder of earth; flour is the powder of grain. But the word is particularly applied to substances reduced to fine particles for medicinal purposes.
2.
A composition of saltpeter, sulphur and charcoal, mixed and granulated; gun-powder.
3.
Hair powder; pulverized starch.

POW'DER

,
Verb.
T.
To reduce to fine particles; to comminute; to pulverize; to triturate; to pound, grind or rub into fine particles.
1.
To sprinkle with powder; as, to powder the hair.
2.
To sprinkle with salt; to corn; as meat.

POW'DER

,
Verb.
I.
To come violently. [Not in use.]