Powder down

Powder down
Powder Pow"der, n. [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. [1913 Webster]

Grind their bones to powder small. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

2. An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.; gunpowder. See {Gunpowder}. [1913 Webster]

{Atlas powder}, {Baking powder}, etc. See under {Atlas}, {Baking}, etc.

{Powder down} (Zo["o]l.), the peculiar dust, or exfoliation, of powder-down feathers.

{Powder-down feather} (Zo["o]l.), 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} (Zo["o]l.), 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. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Powder down — is a special type of down feathers. They occur in a few groups of apparently unrelated birds and thus are probably evolutionary homoplasies. These down feathers differ from the usual down as they are exceptionally fine and produce a dust between… …   Wikipedia

  • powder down — noun : modified down feathers in some birds (as herons, parrots, tinamous, frogmouths) that grow continuously and disintegrate at the ends * * * modified down feathers that continually crumble at the tips, producing a fine powder that forms a… …   Useful english dictionary

  • Powder-down feather — Powder Pow der, n. [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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Powder-down patch — Powder Pow der, n. [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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • powder down — modified down feathers that continually crumble at the tips, producing a fine powder that forms a bloom on the plumage of certain birds, as pigeons and herons. * * * …   Universalium

  • powder-down — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Down feather — The down of birds is a layer of fine feathers found under the tougher exterior feathers. Very young birds are clad only in down. Powder down is a specialized type of down found only in a few groups of birds. Down is a fine thermal insulator and… …   Wikipedia

  • Powder — Pow der, n. [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,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Powder hose — Powder Pow der, n. [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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Powder hoy — Powder Pow der, n. [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 …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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