- Daub
- Daub Daub (d[add]b), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Daubed}; p. pr. &
vb. n. {Daubing}.] [OE. dauben to smear, OF. dauber to
plaster, fr. L. dealbare to whitewash, plaster; de- + albare
to whiten, fr. albus white, perh. also confused with W. dwb
plaster, dwbio to plaster, Ir. & OGael. dob plaster. See
{Alb}, and cf. {Dealbate}.]
1. To smear with soft, adhesive matter, as pitch, slime, mud,
etc.; to plaster; to bedaub; to besmear.
[1913 Webster]
She took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch. --Ex. ii. 3. [1913 Webster]
2. To paint in a coarse or unskillful manner. [1913 Webster]
If a picture is daubed with many bright and glaring colors, the vulgar admire it is an excellent piece. --I. Watts. [1913 Webster]
A lame, imperfect piece, rudely daubed over. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
3. To cover with a specious or deceitful exterior; to disguise; to conceal. [1913 Webster]
So smooth he daubed his vice with show of virtue. --Shak. [1913 Webster]
4. To flatter excessively or glossy. [R.] [1913 Webster]
I can safely say, however, that, without any daubing at all, I am very sincerely your very affectionate, humble servant. --Smollett. [1913 Webster]
5. To put on without taste; to deck gaudily. [R.] [1913 Webster]
Let him be daubed with lace. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.