n. & v.
n. 1 a kind of paint using glue or size instead of an oil-base, for use on walls or for scene-painting. 2 a method of mural and poster painting using this.
v.tr. paint (walls etc.) with distemper.
[ earlier as verb, f. OF destremper or LL distemperare soak, macerate: see DISTEMPER(2) ]