tar-brush
Preserved but no longer current.
A person whose complexion indicates a mixture of negro blood, is said to have had a lick of the TAR-BRUSH. Sometimes a man of this description is said to have been dipped in the black-pot, and he is often reminded that "another dip would have done it," i.e., another dip would have made a negro of him.
Era: ca. 1874 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Hotten’s The Slang Dictionary (1874, public domain; Project Gutenberg #42108, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “tar-brush” mean?
A person whose complexion indicates a mixture of negro blood, is said to have had a lick of the TAR-BRUSH. Sometimes a man of this description is said to have been dipped in the black-pot, and he is often reminded that "another dip would have done it," i.e., another dip would have made a negro of him.
Is “tar-brush” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.