powder English · revision 6649

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=c. 1290|origins=la pulvis}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpaʊ.də(ɹ)/ ''(UK)''; /ˈpaʊ.dɚ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is Middle English poudre, [[bor|fro|poudre|t=dust, powder, ashes]], earlier pouldre,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) from [[la|pulvis|t=dust, powder]] (genitive pulveris; see [[pulverize]] and [[pollen]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(Cresswell 2021) The -d- is an unetymological insertion common in French,^(Etymonline) and German has both Puder, through French, and Pulver, from Latin.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Solid matter in fine particles, dust, ashes: about 1290 in the OED,^(OED 1989) about 1300 in Etymonline,^(Etymonline) probably before 1300, in ''Arthour and Merlin'', in Barnhart;^(Barnhart 1988) Poudre is a surname from 1260.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Medicinal powder is from 1340,^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989) and gunpowder from about 1380.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Powdered spice or salt for seasoning is from the 14th century,^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) and cosmetic powder from the 1570s.^(Etymonline)^(OED 1989) The verb, to sprinkle powder on or season, is from before 1300, and to make into powder from before 1400.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The powder horn is from 1533,^(Barnhart 1988) the ''powder monkey'', a boy who carried gunpowder to a ship's guns, from the 1680s,^(Etymonline) and the powder room, at first a room for storing gunpowder on a ship (1627), a women's lavatory by 1936–41.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The figurative powder keg is from 1893–95.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) Word Origins notes that ''keep your powder dry'', attributed to Cromwell, first appears in a 19th-century Irish ballad.^(Cresswell 2021) ''Take a powder'', to leave quickly, is from 1920.^(Etymonline) Fresh loose snow for skiing is powder from 1948.^(OED 1989)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 1290 – dust; fine particles.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1340 – medicinal powder.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+ * c. 1380 – gunpowder.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1570s – cosmetic powder.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1893 – powder keg, figuratively.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1920 – take a powder.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # A substance in the form of fine dry particles.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # A preparation in this form, such as face powder, soap powder or a medicinal powder.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # [[gunpowder|alt=Gunpowder]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Fresh, loose [[snow]].^(Collins 2023)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To reduce to powder; to [[pulverize]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # To sprinkle or cover with powder.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[powderer]]

+ * [[powderless]]

+ * [[powderlike]]

+ * [[powderman]]

+ * [[gunpowder]]

+ * [[bleaching powder]]

+ * [[chili powder]]

+ * [[Dover's powder]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pulverize]]

+ * [[pollen]]

+ * [[powdery]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}