white lead

American  

[led] / lɛd /

noun

1. a white, heavy powder, basic lead carbonate, 2PbCO 3 ⋅Pb(OH) 2 , used as a pigment, in putty, and in medicinal ointments for burns.

2. the putty made from this substance in oil.

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white lead British  

/ lɛd /

noun

1. Also called: ceruse.  a white solid usually regarded as a mixture of lead carbonate and lead hydroxide; basic lead carbonate: used in paint and in making putty and ointments for the treatment of burns. Formula: 2PbCO 3 .Pb(OH) 2

2. either of two similar white pigments based on lead sulphate or lead silicate

3. a type of putty made by mixing white lead with boiled linseed oil

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Etymology

Origin of white lead

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Example Sentences

Leonardo coated the wooden panel with an extra thick layer of white lead paint.

From Literature

This show has a white director and a white lead producer, which I understand has led to some pushback.

From New York Times

After years of airing holiday films with straight, primarily white lead characters, Hallmark aired its first “Countdown to Christmas” movie with gay leads in 2020.

From Los Angeles Times

“Port Authority” has its straight white lead explore unfamiliar territory, but it lacks the visual savvy to match the complicated implications of that journey.

From New York Times

Male members of the court of Louis XIV in France painted on beauty marks, while Elizabethan Englishmen powdered their faces with ceruse, a toxic mixture of vinegar and white lead.

From New York Times