To apply white face-powder and black ink, specifically for stage actors or historically for women; to dress up for a role.

To polish or refine a piece of writing; to carefully distinguish terms or meanings in a text.

(literary) pretension or hypocrisy; putting on a fake appearance to deceive others.

(literary) beautiful colors or paints used in art.

(literary) white powder and black ink as a metaphor for things that are clearly different, often used in the context of confusing the two