trans. To paint, smear or coat with lampblack.
1676. Wycherley, Pl. Dealer, III. i. The Clerks Ink is scarce off of your fingers, you that newly come from Lamblacking the Judges shoors, and are not fit to wipe mine!
a. 1704. T. Brown, Praise Poverty, Wks. 1730, I. 98. A … scoundrel who knows no pleasure beyond … lampblacking signs.
Hence Lamp-blacked ppl. a.
1864. Morning Star, 25 May, 4. The lamp-blacked nigger melodists.
1889. Lond. & Edinb. Philos. Mag., Ser. V. XXVII. 2. A thickly lampblacked thermometric apparatus.
1899. Watts-Dunton, Aylwin (1900), 132/2. Piles of lampblacked coffins.
