gouache
UK[ɡʊˈɑːʃ]US[ɡwɑːʃ]
n
A method of painting using opaque pigments ground in water and thickened with a gluelike substance.
n
A picture painted using this method.
n
The opaque watercolor paint used in this method.
Etymology
The word 'gouache' entered English in the late 19th century directly from the French term of the same spelling. The French word derives from the Italian 'guazzo', which originally meant "a splash" or "a pool". This Italian term itself is believed to have roots in the Latin 'aquatio', meaning "watering" or "a place for drawing water", from 'aqua' (water). The semantic journey is elegantly logical: from the general concept of water and pools, the term in Italian art came to describe a specific painting technique involving water-based, opaque colors, a meaning fully preserved in the modern English usage for this distinct type of paint and painting style.
Analysis
This word is a direct loan from French and functions as a simplex unit in English. It cannot be meaningfully segmented into productive morphemes based on its current English spelling.
Examples
She preferred the matte, velvety finish of gouache over transparent watercolors.
The illustration was done in vibrant gouache on heavy paper.
He opened his box of gouache paints to begin the project.