Meaning

noun a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized

noun a mixture of potassium nitrate, charcoal, and sulfur in a 75:15:10 ratio which is used in gunnery, time fuses, and fireworks

noun any of various cosmetic or medical preparations dispensed in the form of a pulverized powder

originFrom Middle English poudre, pouder, pouldre, borrowed from Old French poudre, poldre, puldre, from Latin pulverem, accusative singular of Latin pulvis (“dust, powder”). Doublet of pulver. Compare pollen (“fine flour”), polverine, pulverize.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 3.0