Lipstick

Lipstick

Noun / Verb · /ˈlɪp.stɪk/

Definition

(Noun) a stick of coloured wax or similar substance used to colour the lips as a cosmetic; the colour applied by such a stick; (Verb, informal) to apply lipstick to; also used in the phrase lipstick on a pig — to make superficial cosmetic improvements to something fundamentally flawed.

Origin

From lip (Old English lippa — the fleshy part of the mouth) + stick (Old English sticca — a rod or peg). The compound dates from the late 19th century as commercially manufactured lip cosmetics were developed. Earlier lip colouring used pots of pigmented wax or paste rather than a stick format.