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put·ty

(pŭtē)

n. pl. put·ties

a. A doughlike cement made by mixing whiting and linseed oil, used to fill holes in woodwork and secure panes of glass.

b. A substance with a similar consistency or function.

2. A fine lime cement used as a finishing coat on plaster.

3. A yellowish or light brownish gray to grayish yellow or light grayish brown.

tr.v. put·tied, put·ty·ing, put·ties

To fill, cover, or secure with putty.

[French potée, polishing powder, from Old French, a potful, from pot, pot, from Vulgar Latin *pottus.]

Indo-European & Semitic Roots Appendices

Thousands of entries in the dictionary include etymologies that trace their origins back to reconstructed proto-languages. You can obtain more information about these forms in our online appendices:

Indo-European Roots

Semitic Roots

The Indo-European appendix covers nearly half of the Indo-European roots that have left their mark on English words. A more complete treatment of Indo-European roots and the English words derived from them is available in our Dictionary of Indo-European Roots.

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