— plasterer , n. — plasteriness , n. — plasterlike, plastery , adj.
/plas"teuhr, plah"steuhr/ , n.
1. a composition, as of lime or gypsum, sand, water, and sometimes hair or other fiber, applied in a pasty form to walls, ceilings, etc., and allowed to harden and dry.
2. powdered gypsum.
3. See plaster of Paris .
4. a solid or semisolid preparation spread upon cloth, plastic, or other material and applied to the body, esp. for some healing purpose.
v.t.
5. to cover (walls, ceilings, etc.) with plaster.
6. to treat with gypsum or plaster of Paris.
7. to lay flat like a layer of plaster.
8. to daub or fill with plaster or something similar.
9. to apply a plaster to (the body, a wound, etc.).
10. to overspread with something, esp. thickly or excessively: a wall plastered with posters.
11. Informal.
a. to defeat decisively; trounce; drub.
b. to knock down or injure, as by a blow or beating.
c. to inflict serious damage or injury on by heavy bombing, shelling, or other means of attack.
[ bef. 1000; ME, OE plastrum plaster (both medical and building senses), aph. var. of L emplastrum émplastron salve, alter. of émplaston, neut. of émplastos daubed; see EM- 2 , -PLAST ]