Dentifrice (was: "Commercial" words - was: plural people)

[Arnold M. Zwicky]

doesn't the english commercial word "dentifrice" cover tooth powder
as well as toothpaste?

my not-very-good french-english dictionary translates french
"dentifrice" as "toothpaste, toothpowder; mouthwash".

in any case, in the absinthe story i understood "dentifrice" (in
french) to be serving as a code word.

arnold

------------------------------------------------------------
The American Dialect Society - http://www.americandialect.org