bistre

American  

[bis-ter] / ˈbɪs tər /

Or bister

noun

1. a brown pigment extracted from the soot of wood, often used in pen and wash drawings.

2. a yellowish to dark-brown color.

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bistre British  

/ ˈbɪstə /

noun

1. a transparent water-soluble brownish-yellow pigment made by boiling the soot of wood, used for pen and wash drawings

2. 1. a yellowish-brown to dark brown colour

   2. ( as modifier )

      bistre paint

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Other Word Forms

• bistred
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of bistre

1720–30; < French, Middle French, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

bistre

Inks are made of pure black, slightly tempered with bistre or burnt sienna, and the shade can be varied according to taste.

From A Treatise on Etching by Lalanne, Maxime

Raw umber gives a brighter brown, bistre a brighter still.

From Paper and Printing Recipes A Handy Volume of Practical Recipes, Concerning the Every-Day Business of Stationers, Printers, Binders, and the Kindred Trades by Ford, J. Sawtelle

Why, my boys rub blue and bistre till their faces run of a stream.

From Pencil Sketches or, Outlines of Character and Manners by Leslie, Eliza

The resulting tints were very delicate in detail, of a colour varying between a bistre and olive tint, and after washing dried with a brilliant surface.

From The Evolution of Photography With a Chronological Record of Discoveries, Inventions, etc., Contributions to Photographic Literature, and Personal Reminescences Extending over Forty Years by Werge, John

P. 4-9 cm. compact, exp. mealy then glabrous, pallid rusty; g. adnate, very broad, grey then purplish bistre; s. 7-12 cm. whitish, apex mealy; sp.

From European Fungus Flora: Agaricaceae by Massee, George