powder

Webster's Dictionary (1913)

Origin: 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.— William 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 Zoology, the peculiar dust, or exfoliation, of powder-down feathers. — Powder-down feather Zoology, 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 Zoology, 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, Edward S. — Powder hoy Nautical, 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 Nautical, 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

Origin: 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.— John Milton

3. To sprinkle with salt; to corn, as meat. obsolete

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’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54