war-paintn.
/ˈwɔːpeɪnt/, U.S. /ˈwɔrˌpeɪnt/ 1. Among North American Indians: Paint applied to the face and body before going into battle.
ΘΚΠ
society > armed hostility > war > [noun] > war-paint
war-paint1826
the world > matter > colour > colouring > painting > [noun] > paint applied to body or face
war-paint1826
1826 J. F. Cooper Last of Mohicans II. vi. 108 The young Huron was in his war-paint.
1837 R. M. Bird Nick of Woods II. 44 His countenance, grim with war-paint.
1857 Putnam's Monthly Mag. May 452/2 He [the Indian] has put on his war-paint, and is prepared for death.
2. colloquial.
a. One's best clothes and finery; esp. ceremonial military or official costume, ‘full fig’.
ΘΚΠ
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [noun] > best
best beseen1602
best1708
best bib and tucker1747
war-paint1859
glad rags1902
bezzies1966
the world > textiles and clothing > clothing > types or styles of clothing > [noun] > for specific purpose > official or ceremonial
feast clotha1325
formality1673
full dress1724
toggery1826
grande tenue1829
pontificalibus1855
war-paint1859
1859 H. Kingsley Recoll. Geoffry Hamlyn I. xiv. 212 Old Lady E——..in her war-paint and feathers—pinker than ever.
1879 H. N. Moseley Notes by Naturalist on ‘Challenger’ xix. 497 The officers of the ship, donned, as in duty bound, full ‘war paint’ to receive him.
1883 E. Pennell-Elmhirst Cream Leicestersh. 380 A stiff shower took all the glaze off our war-paint ere the meet was reached.
b. Cosmetics, make-up.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > attention and judgement > beautification > beautification of the person > beautification of the skin or complexion > [noun] > preparations for the skin or complexion
paste?a1425
pomatum1562
reparation1579
pomade1598
lustrification1631
butter?1762
war-paint1869
toiletry1917
face1923
make-up1932
1869 B. Harte Luck of Roaring Camp 84 The stranger..[brightened] through the color which Red Gulch knew facetiously as her ‘war paint’.
1945 L. Shelly Hepcats Jive Talk Dict. 35 War paint, cosmetics.
1957 Landfall XI. i. 41 ‘In a moment,’ Sylvia said, clicking open her purse. ‘Just a daub of warpaint.’
1970 R. Lowell Notebk. 57 If I look for the unbelievably beautiful In a city, it's mostly women in their war-paint.
1977 J. Gardner Werewolf Trace x. 91 She had a fresh coat of warpaint and was all breathless.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1921; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1826