daub
UK: dɔːb | US: dɔːb
vt. to coat or smear (a surface) with a thick or sticky substance
n. a crude or amateurish painting
n. a patch or smear of a soft substance
The word "daub" traces back to Old French dauber, meaning "to plaster or whitewash," which likely derived from Latin dealbare ("to whiten"). The Latin roots de- (completely) and albus (white) suggest the original sense involved covering a surface thoroughly, often with a light-colored material. Over time, the meaning broadened to include any crude or messy application of a substance, such as paint or mud, reflecting its modern usage in both literal and figurative contexts (e.g., amateurish artwork).
The children daubed the walls with finger paint.
The artist’s early works were mere daubs compared to her later masterpieces.
He daubed sunscreen on his face before going outside.
The cave walls were daubed with ancient symbols.
Critics dismissed the painting as a clumsy daub.