war paint

American  

noun

1. paint applied by American Indians to their faces and bodies before going to war.

2. Informal. makeup; cosmetics.

3. Informal. full dress; regalia.

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war paint British  

noun

1. painted decoration of the face and body applied by certain North American Indians before battle

2. informal finery or regalia

3. informal cosmetics

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Etymology

Origin of war paint

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30

Example Sentences

Mostly clad in black and many with war paint on their faces, the mourners belonged to the tribal Kuki group, who are mostly Christian.

From BBC • Jul. 12, 2023

In 2020, the Chiefs banned headdresses and war paint in the stadium and pushed for cheerleaders to do the “chop” with a closed fist instead of an open hand.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 15, 2023

They blog, they have a brand, they wrap themselves in henna or war paint at festivals even though they rarely engage in a physical war, if they ever engage at all.

From Salon • Feb. 8, 2020

It’s an alternate, insular world where I find myself running through a field, streaked in war paint, chanting: “We have spirit, because we’re Blues! We have spirit because we’re Jews!”

From New York Times • Sep. 18, 2019

Karl stood with his face to the charred building, soot striping it like war paint.

From "Hattie Big Sky" by Kirby Larson