POWDER

powder. Powder, n. fine dust, dust of starch, gunpowder

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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. 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. 2. An explosive mixture used in gunnery, blasting, etc.; gunpowder. See Gunpowder.
Atlas powder, Baking powder, etc. See under Atlas, Baking, etc. — Powder down (Zoöl.), the peculiar dust, or exfoliation, of powder-down feathers. — Powder-down feather (Zoöl.), 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 (Zoöl.), 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.