Etymology

whitewash

white·wash
W4H4I1T1E1W4A1S1H4

Today it means: A mixture of a powdered mineral substance (often slaked lime (containing calcium hydroxide), chalk (calcium carbonate), or both) and water which is used for painting surfaces such as fences and walls bright white. Full definition →

New Latin lōtiō alba
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The story

  1. New Latin · calque oflōtiō alba
  2. English todaywhitewash

The noun is derived from white (adjective) + wash (noun). Noun sense 5.1 (“medicinal preparation for treating skin diseases”) is a calque of New Latin lōtiō alba (literally “white wash”). The verb is derived partly from white (adjective) + wash (verb), and partly from the noun.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.