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. Shak.
2. An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.; gunpowder.
See Gunpowder. Atlas powder, Baking powder, etc. See under Atlas,
Baking, etc.
— Powder down (Zoöl.), the peculiar dust, or exfoliation, of
powder-down feathers.
— Powder-down feather (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), 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, n.
POWDER
Pow"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Powdered; p. pr. & vb. n. Powdering.]
Etym: [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.]
POWDER
Pow"der, v. 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.
POWDERED
Pow"dered, a.