a. [f. L. farīnāce-us, f. farīna (see prec.) + -OUS. Cf. F. farinacé.]
1. Consisting or made of flour or meal.
1656. [see FARINOUS].
1755. Gentl. Mag., XXV. 8. It cannot be absolutely affirmed to be merely farinaceous, but it does not appear to be compounded of any animal substance.
1807–26. S. Cooper, First Lines Surg. (ed. 5), 81. During the symptomatic fever, a mild, vegetable farinaceous diet is proper; but afterwards, in the suppurating stages, it is essential to support the patient with animal food, wine, and cordials.
1866. Livingstone, Last Jrnls. (1873), I. xi. 278. Their farinaceous food creates a great craving for fish: were my shoes not done I would go in for buffaloes too.
2. Containing or yielding flour or starch; starchy.
1667. Phil. Trans., II. 485. A Farinaceous or Mealy Tree, serving to make bread of it.
1732. Arbuthnot, Rules of Diet, 322. Their Aliment ought to be light, of farinaceous Vegetables, as Water-Gruel, Preparations of Barley, with some Juice of Limon.
1830. M. Donovan, Dom. Econ., I. 217. The greater fineness of the meal, and the less solubility of its farinaceous part.
1873. E. Smith, Foods, 156. This large class [maize, or Indian corn, millet, &c.] of farinaceous seeds comprehends those which are the most frequently used by man in every part of the world, and while affording much nutriment, are agreeable to the palate, capable of being perfectly cooked, and may be produced in an unlimited quantity in all but the coldest climates.
3. Of a mealy nature, resembling meal in texture or quality.
1664. Phil. Trans., I. 10. One is a kind of Crystalline Stone, and almost all good Lead: the other not so rich and more farinaceous.
1796. Withering, Brit. Plants, IV. 13. The granulations of the crust much larger, but equally soft and farinaceous.
1807. J. E. Smith, Phys. Bot., 81. The root … has, when fresh, a most acrid taste and irritating quality, totally lost by drying, when the root becomes simply farinaceous, tasteless and inert.
1870. Hooker, Stud. Flora, 343. Cotyledons thick, fleshy or farinaceous, often grooved or folded.
4. Having a mealy appearance. a. Finely comminuted, powdery; now only Path.: see quot. 1884.
1664. Power, Experimental Philosophy, I. 47. This farinaceous Seed of Wort.
1884. Syd. Soc. Lex., Farinaceous, in Medicine, the term is applied to epidermal exfoliations which are pale and very minute, so as to resemble flour.
† b. Covered with farina or fine dust. Obs.
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., III. xv. 141. All farinaceous or mealy winged animals, as Butter-flies, and Moths.
1668. Wilkins, Real Char., II. v. § 2. 126. Crane Fly. Shepheards fly. Farinaceous wings; being covered with a mealy substance easily coming off upon a touch.
1829. Loudon, Encycl. Plants, 1016–7. Farinaceous outside, pink inside.
