Category:Daub

Daub, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Daubed; p. pr. & vb. n. Daubing.] Etym: [OE. dauben to smear, OF. dauber to plaster, fr. L. dealbare to whitewash, plaster; de- + albare to whiten, fr. albus white, perh. also confused with W. dwb plaster, dwbio to plaster, Ir. & OGael. dob plaster. See Alb, and cf. Dealbate.]

1. To smear with soft, adhesive matter, as pitch, slime, mud, etc.; to plaster; to bedaub; to besmear. She took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch. Ex. ii. 3.

2. To paint in a coarse or unskillful manner. If a picture is daubed with many bright and glaring colors, the vulgar admire it is an excellent piece. I. Watts. A lame, imperfect piece, rudely daubed over. Dryden.

3. To cover with a specious or deceitful exterior; to disguise; to conceal. So smooth he daubed his vice with show of virtue. Shak.

4. To flatter excessively or glossy. [R.] I can safely say, however, that, without any daubing at all, I am very sincerely your very affectionate, humble servant. Smollett.

5. To put on without taste; to deck gaudily. [R.] Let him be daubed with lace. Dryden.

daub Daub, v. i.

Defn: To smear; to play the flatterer. His conscience. . . will not daub nor flatter. South.

daub Daub, n.

1. A viscous, sticky application; a spot smeared or dabed; a smear.

2. (Paint.)

Defn: A picture coarsely executed. Did you. . . take a look at the grand picture. . . 'T is a melancholy daub, my lord. Sterne.