lampblack

plural lampblacks · alternative lamp-black

1. countableuncountableAn amorphous form of carbon made from soot (incompletely burned organic matter); used to make pigments and inks.

   A smudge of lampblack is made on his forehead to disfigure him and thus avert the evil eye.

   1906, James George Frazer, Adonis, Attis, Osiris, volume 2, page 261

   1 more example

   This Messrs. Greener and Straite allege they have effected by taking a quantity of lampblack or powdered charcoal, or of powdered coke, and which has been purified, by the action of electricity from sulphur and any other mixtures, and digesting the same in diluted nitro-muriatic acid.

   1846, editorial staff, “CHEMISTRY”, in Scientific American, series 1, Volume 2, Issue 13, page 102

present singular third person lampblacks · participle present lampblacking · participle past lampblacked · past lampblacked · alternative lamp-black

1. transitiveTo blacken (something) using this form of carbon.

   Gadsbodkins, you puny Upſtart in the Law, to uſe me ſo, you Green Bag Carrier, you Murderer of unfortunate Cauſes, the Clerks Ink is ſcarce off of your fingers, you that newly come from Lamblacking the Judges ſhooes, and are not fit to wipe mine; […]

   1676 December 11 (first performance), [William] Wycherley, The Plain-Dealer. A Comedy. […], London: […] T[homas] N[ewcomb] for James Magnes and Rich[ard] Bentley […], published 1677, →OCLC, Act III, page 42