daubing

Verb

daub (third-person singular simple present daubs, present participle daubing, simple past and past participle daubed)

1. (intransitive, transitive) To apply (something) to a surface in hasty or crude strokes.
   • The artist just seemed to daub on paint at random and suddenly there was a painting.

   Synonyms:

   apply, coat, cover, plaster, smear

2. (transitive) To paint (a picture, etc.) in a coarse or unskilful manner.
   • […] a lame, imperfect Piece, rudely daub’d over with too little Reflection and too much haste.1695, Charles Alphonse du Fresnoy, translated by John Dryden, Observations on the Art of Painting, London: W. Rogers, page 201
3. (obsolete, transitive) To cover with a specious or deceitful exterior; to disguise; to conceal.
   • So smooth he daub’d his vice with show of virtue,c. 1593 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Richard the Third: […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...
4. (obsolete, transitive) To flatter excessively or grossly.
   • I can safely say, however, that without any daubing at all, I am, very sincerely, Your very affectionate, humble servant,1766, Tobias Smollett, Travels through France and Italy, London: R. Baldwin, Volume 2, Letter 28, p. 73
5. (obsolete, transitive) To put on without taste; to deck gaudily.
   • Yet shall Whitehall the Innocent, the Good,
     See these men dance all daub’d with Lace and Blood.1697, John Dryden, “On the Three Dukes killing the Beadle on Sunday Morning, Febr. the 26th, 1670/1” in John Denham et al., Poems on affairs of state from the time of Oliver Cromwell, to the...
6. (transitive) To mark spots on a bingo card, using a dauber.

See all 10 meanings of daub