Toothpowders

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Fine powders formulated for cleaning and polishing teeth, traditionally used with a wet brush before modern toothpastes became standard
2. Ground or pulverized cleansing preparations designed to remove plaque and debris from tooth surfaces when applied with moisture and friction
3. Dry abrasive powders meant to be mixed with water or saliva for dental hygiene, offering an alternative to paste-based tooth-cleaning products

Etymology: "Toothpowders" is simply the plural of "toothpowder", so the history belongs to the singular. The noun is a plain compound of "tooth" and "powder": the first is the Old English "tōþ", and the second came into English from Old French "poudre", ultimately from Latin "pulvis", meaning dust. The combination describes exactly what it is, a powder applied to the teeth for cleaning, and nothing in its formation is figurative or unusual.

Synonyms: tooth powder, dentifrice