whitew

n. [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Any wash or liquid composition for whitening something, as a wash for making the skin fair. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A composition of line and water, or of whiting size, and water, or the like, used for whitening walls, ceilings, etc.; milk of lime. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. a glossing over or cover up (of crimes or misfeasance). [ PJC ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Whitewashed p. pr. & vb. n. Whitewashing. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. To apply a white liquid composition to; to whiten with whitewash. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To make white; to give a fair external appearance to; to clear from imputations or disgrace; hence, to clear (a bankrupt) from obligation to pay debts. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. In various games, to defeat (an opponent) so that he fails to score, or to reach a certain point in the game; to skunk. [ Colloq., U. S. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

4. to gloss over or cover up (crimes or misfeasance). [ PJC ]

n. One who whitewashes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) A perennial composite herb (Chrysanthemum Leucanthemum) with conspicuous white rays and a yellow disk, a common weed in grass lands and pastures; -- called also oxeye daisy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) (a) The chaffinch; -- so called from the white bands on the wing. (b) The velvet duck. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The soft and easily-worked wood of the tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera). It is much used in cabinetwork, carriage building, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Several other kinds of light-colored wood are called whitewood in various countries, as the wood of Bignonia leucoxylon in the West Indies, of Pittosporum bicolor in Tasmania, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

Whitewood bark. See the Note under Canella. [ 1913 Webster ]