India ink

noun

, (sometimes lowercase)

1. a black pigment consisting of lampblack mixed with glue or size.
2. a liquid ink from this.

Word History and Origins

Origin of India ink¹

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

Lotion tubes, squirt bottles, brushes, a honey bear, solo flip-flops, a Wiffle ball and a legless lawn flamingo now stained bone-white, all provide the canvas for Riley’s patterned mariner drawings in India ink.

From New York Times

“The only work open to women consists of tracing the characters on clear celluloid sheets with India ink and filling in the tracings on the reverse side with paint according to directions.”

From New York Times

The Victorian-era collections are true works of art, with purple, red, brown and green algae arranged in eye-catching patterns on sturdy white card and signed in flowing India ink.

From The Guardian

Circle-shaped watercolor and India ink images capture her vignettes’ drama, spotlighting the players.

From New York Times

Visitors can see the pencil lines beneath the India ink, and the white-out on top.

From Washington Post