Obs. exc. arch. [a. Fr. fard (OF. fart masc., farde fem.); of obscure etymology; Diez refers it to OHG. gi-farwit colored, painted (fem. givarida, glossed fucata), pa. pple. of farwjan to color.] Paint (esp. white paint) for the face.
1540. Palsgr., trans. Acolastus, I. i. A certain gay glosse or farde, such as women paynte them with.
1619. Z. Boyd, Last Battell (1629), II. 959. Fard and foolish vaine fashions of apparell are but Bawds of allurement to vncleannesse.
1766. Smollett, Trav., I. xvii. 282. Rouge and fard are more peculiarly necessary in this country, where the complexion and skin are naturally swarthy and yellow.
1791. J. Whitaker, Review of Gibbon, 4. The skeleton of history, not merely clothed with muscles, animated with life, and bearing the bloom of health upon its cheek; but, instead of carrying a higher flush of health upon its cheek, and shewing a brighter beam of life in its eyes, rubbed with Spanish wool, painted with French fard, and exhibiting the fire of falsehood and wantonness in its eyes.
1889. F. Barrett, Under Strange Mask, II. x. 8. The enamels and fards employed to conceal the mark of Time’s finger.
fig. 1587. Mirr. Mag., Locrinus, xxvii.
| For though yee coloure all with coate of ryght, | |
| No fayned fard deceaues or dimmes his sight, | |
| Hee guydes the good, and wrekes the wronges of might. |
1663. Sir G. Mackenzie, Religious Stoic, viii. (1685), 75. The fard of Eloquence.
1839. Thackeray, 2nd Lect. Fine Arts. Why will he not stick to copying her majestical countenance instead of daubing it with some … fard of his own?
