- Powder room
- 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.