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Glite Dictionary
kohl

kohl

32 9.2
A black powder used around the eyes as makeup
  • noun
  • /koʊl/
translation icon : kajal
  • Her eyes are shining under the kohl, which enhances them.

Examples

  • The foxes had eyes lined in thick black kohl like an Egyptian god.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • Despite the smudged kohl and all, something tells me you looked stunning for the shoot.

    Blog text (34)

  • Lips brilliant with juice of henna; eyes lined with kohl.

    Intolerance: Love's Struggle Throughout the Ages (1916)

  • She carefully applied kohl to enhance the beauty of her eyes for the celebration.

  • The makeup artist used kohl to create a striking look for her runway show.

  • In traditional ceremonies, women often adorn their eyes with kohl to symbolize elegance.

Synonyms

eyeliner
vskohl
31 2.1

A dark line drawn along the edge of the eyelid to make the eyes look bigger

is a traditional eye powder or paste used in Middle East and South Asia
surma
vskohl
  • Indian
9.9

A black powder used to line the eyes in South Asia

is used in Middle Eastern and South Asian cultures and occurs as a paste

Surface Forms

kohl singular
kohls plural

Etymology

Kohl comes from the Arabic word kuhl, which meant 'dark powder' used to put around the eyes. It is also like the South Asian word kajal, so kohl today means the black eye makeup people wear for beauty and, in older beliefs, to protect the eyes.