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.
Grind their bones to powder small. --Shak.
2. An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.;
gunpowder. See Gunpowder.
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.
Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
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