paint-stone, noun

Origin:
South African DutchShow more Perhaps translation of South African Dutch verfklip, verf paint + klip stone (cf. Dutch verfaarde ‘paint earth’).
A stone which, when broken, provides powder which in the past was used as pigment; this powder.
1797 J. Barrow in D. Fairbridge Lady Anne Barnard (1924) 41I send you a specimen of a paint-stone, which you may break if you like — you will find within a fine impalpable powder which when mixed with oil serves all the country people here as a paint for their houses, waggons etc. They are found of every possible colour except green...The blue is the most rare, and is the Native Prussian blue.
1797 Lady A. Barnard S. Afr. Century Ago (1910) 121The ‘paint stone’ is found in this neighbourhood (sc. Paarl) in quantities — namely, an impalpable powder..contained within stones of different sizes, and on breaking them the powder comes forth, ground as fine as if it had been done in Bond Street.
1926 P.W. Laidler Tavern of Ocean 97For paint to preserve the woodwork of his carts and waggons, the farmer mixed ‘paint stones’ (natural ochres) with oil.
1934 C.P. Swart Supplement to Pettman. 132Paint Stone, Certain stones in the Cape Province that on being broken are found to contain finely ground powders, of all colours but green. These powders were extensively used.
A stone which, when broken, provides powder which in the past was used as pigment; this powder.
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17971934

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