plaster

Meanings

Noun

• A paste applied to the skin for healing or cosmetic purposes.
• A small adhesive bandage to cover a minor wound; a sticking plaster.
• A mixture of lime or gypsum, sand, and water, sometimes with the addition of fibres, that hardens to a smooth solid and is used for coating walls and ceilings; render, stucco.
• A cast made of plaster of Paris and gauze; plaster cast.
• plaster of Paris.

Verb

• To cover or coat something with plaster; to render.
• To apply a plaster to.
• To smear with some viscous or liquid substance.
• To hide or cover up, as if with plaster; to cover thickly.
• To smooth over.

Origin

• Old English plaster, from late Latin plastrum, shortened from Classical Latin emplastrum ("a plaster, bandage"); later reinforced by Anglo-Norman plastre.