Plastering

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The act of spreading a smooth mixture of plaster on walls or ceilings to finish or repair them ; the process of coating a surface with a dense or thick layer of material
2. Applying a paste-like substance to interior or exterior walls for protection or decoration ; covering an object or area completely with a thick or adhesive covering
3. The procedure of smoothing surfaces by applying plaster as a finishing touch ; the technique of layering a substantial amount of a substance over a surface to alter its appearance or texture

Etymology: Plastering began as a medical word. The Latin "emplastrum" meant a bandage or medicinal dressing spread onto the skin, borrowed from Greek "emplastron," from "emplassein," to daub on. Over time it was shortened to "plastrum," and Old English took it as "plaster," which replaced the native word "clīþa," a sticky salve or poultice. Medieval English used it for something you applied to the body, not to walls. The meaning moved from skin to surface through the idea of spreading a soft, sticky layer over something. Middle English gave the verb "plastren," a derivative of the noun, meaning to cover with such a dressing, and the building sense of spreading a wet mixture over walls followed naturally from that act of smearing a substance on. "Plastering" is the present participle and gerund of this verb, so it names both the ongoing act and the trade or work that results from it.

Synonyms: coating, covering, rendering, finishing, surfacing

Antonyms: removing, stripping, exposing, uncovering, revealing