DISTEMPER

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)]