pipe-clay

• Verbe désuet signifiant blanchir ou nettoyer avec de la terre de pipe (craie argileuse), ou au figuré rendre quelque chose pur et impeccable ; il était aussi utilisé dans un contexte militaire pour blanchir les ceinturons et l'équipement.

An obsolete verb meaning to whiten or clean with pipe clay, or figuratively to make something appear pure or flawless; also used historically in military contexts for whitening belts and equipment.

1. Whiten or clean with pipe-clayC2formalbritish

   To whiten or clean something, especially military equipment or clothing, using pipe-clay (a fine white clay).

   Blanchir au blanc d'Espagne

   • The soldiers pipe-clayed their belts for the parade.
   • He spent the morning pipe-claying his white uniform.
   • The old method of pipe-claying leather was still used in some regiments.

   Synonymescleanwhiten