scumble

scum·ble  (skmbl)

tr.v. scum·bled, scum·bling, scum·bles

1. To soften the colors or outlines of (a painting or drawing) by covering with a film of opaque or semiopaque color or by rubbing.

2. To blur the outlines of: a writer who scumbled the line that divides history and fiction.

n.

1. The effect produced by or as if by scumbling.

2. Material used for scumbling.

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[Possibly from scum.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

scumble - the application of very thin coat of color over the surface of a picture application, coating, covering - the work of applying something; "the doctor prescribed a topical application of iodine"; "a complete bleach requires several applications"; "the surface was ready for a coating of paint";