in Painting, denotes a lay or impression of colour, in oil or water, with which the canvass, wall, wainscot, or other matter to be painted is covered. It also denotes any lay or impression used to make a thing firm and consistent, or to screen it from the weather. In gilding leather a couch of water and the albumen of eggs is laid on the leather previous to the application of the gold or silver leaf. Gold-wire drawers apply the term to the gold or silver leaf with which they cover the mass to be gilded or silvered before they draw it through the iron which gives it its proper thickness. Among gilders it denotes the quantity of gold or silver leaf applied on the metals in gilding or silvering.

Surgery. See CATARACT.