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Synonyms

India ink

American  

noun

(sometimes lowercase)
  1. a black pigment consisting of lampblack mixed with glue or size.

  2. a liquid ink from this.


Etymology

Origin of India ink

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The Victorian-era collections are true works of art, with purple, red, brown and green algae arranged in eye-catching patterns on sturdy white card and signed in flowing India ink.

From The Guardian Oct. 27, 2020

Visitors can see the pencil lines beneath the India ink, and the white-out on top.

From Washington Post Jan. 15, 2020

“There’s a white lime coating underneath . and they put black India ink on top.”

From Washington Times Apr. 24, 2016

They are made of plywood with the letters stenciled in India ink.

From Slate Jan. 17, 2013

Using a second needle, Southam tattooed a tiny speck of India ink next to the small bump that formed at the HeLa injection site.

From "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot

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