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gouache

[gwahsh, goo-ahsh; French gwash]
noun, plural gouach·es [gwah-shiz, goo-ah-shiz; French gwash] /ˈgwɑ ʃɪz, guˈɑ ʃɪz; French ˈgwaʃ/ for 3.
  1. a technique of painting with opaque watercolors prepared with gum.
  2. an opaque color used in painting a gouache.
  3. a work painted using gouache.

Origin of gouache

1880–85; < French < Italian guazzo place where there is water ≪ Latin aquātiō, derivative of aqua water
Can be confusedgauche gouache
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for gouache

Historical Examples of gouache

  • He worked in gouache and his style is said to have influenced Hall.

  • The paper mount is painted in gouache; and on the reverse is a view of a fort.

    History of the Fan

    George Woolliscroft Rhead

  • The leaf, which has been removed from the stick, is of paper, painted in gouache.

    History of the Fan

    George Woolliscroft Rhead

  • Gouache laughed a little and looked at Orsino as though asking his opinion.

    Don Orsino

    F. Marion Crawford

  • The hounds did not meet on that day, or he would not have been at Gouache's at all.

    Don Orsino

    F. Marion Crawford

British Dictionary definitions for gouache

gouache

noun
  1. Also called: body colour a painting technique using opaque watercolour paint in which the pigments are bound with glue and the lighter tones contain white
  2. the paint used in this technique
  3. a painting done by this method

Word Origin for gouache

C19: from French, from Italian guazzo puddle, from Latin aquātiō a watering place, from aqua water
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
Word Origin and History for gouache

1882, from French gouache, from Italian guazzo "water color," originally "spray, pool," from Latin aquatio "watering, watering place," from aquatus, past participle of aquari "to bring water for drinking," from aqua (see aqua-).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper