noun
- A fine, white or grayish clay used for making tobacco pipes and for whitening leather and other materials.
verb
- To whiten or clean with pipeclay.
- To subject to excessive military discipline or rigid rules; to enforce strict adherence to regulations.
Usage: chiefly British; historical
Usage: British military slang; dated
Examples
- The potter selected pipeclay for crafting delicate tobacco pipes.
- Soldiers were required to pipeclay their belts and equipment for inspection.
- The regiment was known for its strict pipeclay discipline.
- Pipeclay was traditionally used to whiten military webbing and leather gear.
- The white powder used to pipeclay the uniforms left marks on the soldiers' hands.