A dry substance consisting of very fine particles. A cosmetic product in fine particle form applied to the skin.
From Old French 'poudre,' from Latin 'pulverem' (accusative of 'pulvis') meaning 'dust, powder.' The word entered English in the 13th century, initially referring to any fine, dry particles.
The connection between powder and dust is ancient - the Latin root 'pulvis' also gives us 'pulverize' meaning to reduce to powder! Gunpowder, invented in China, literally changed the world when this 'black powder' reached Europe in the 13th century.
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