blacking

[ blak-ing ]

See synonyms for blacking on Thesaurus.com

noun

any preparation for producing a black coating or finish, as on shoes or stoves.

Origin of blacking

First recorded in 1590–1600; black + -ing¹

Words Nearby blacking

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use blacking in a sentence

He eventually found that blacking out the words with permanent marker proved more effective—but you can imagine how that looked.
Rise of the Man Purse | Isabel Wilkinson | October 13, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
Unless I do better I'll have to try selling papers or blacking boots.
From Farm to Fortune | Horatio Alger Jr.
Very likely you laugh at the fancy of shoe-blacking having anything to do with the farm labourer and agriculture.
The Hills and the Vale | Richard Jefferies
The Bishop learned to glory in his blacking far more than he had ever done in the original mahogany.
Punch, Or The London Charivari, Vol. 100., February 7, 1891 | Various
Then Judy dotted the cotton with shoe blacking and it became a realistic imitation of royal ermine.
Molly Brown's Sophomore Days | Nell Speed

A tap at his door a little later, and young Ried appeared, shoe-brush and blacking-box in hand.
Ester Ried Yet Speaking | Isabella Alden

British Dictionary definitions for blacking

blacking

/ (ˈblækɪŋ) /

noun

any preparation, esp one containing lampblack, for giving a black finish to shoes, metals, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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