barbouiller

to smear

verb bar-boo-YEH Rare

Also means

to scribble

Usage Note

Barbouiller means to smear or daub a surface with paint, mud, or any messy substance. It also means to scribble or paint amateurishly (barbouiller une toile), and in informal speech avoir l'estomac barbouillé means to feel queasy or nauseous. The related noun barbouillage means a daub or scrawl.

Examples

"L'enfant a barbouillé les murs de peinture rouge."

Natural Translation

The child smeared the walls with red paint.

Literal Translation

The child smeared the walls of paint red.

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