whitewash

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   cover with whitewash

   Whitewash walls.

2. 2
   verb

   cover up a misdemeanor, fault, or error

   Let's not whitewash the crimes of Stalin.

The noun is derived from white (adjective) + wash (noun). Noun sense 5.1 (“medicinal preparation for treating skin diseases”) is a calque of New Latin lōtiō alba (literally “white wash”). The verb is derived partly from white (adjective) + wash (verb), and partly from the noun.

Topics

External links

• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary
• Google Images