daub / dôb/ • v. [tr.] coat or smear (a surface) with a substance in a carelessly rough or liberal way: she daubed her face with cream. ∎  spread (a thick or sticky substance) on a surface in such a way: a canvas with paint daubed on it. ∎  paint (words or drawings) on a surface in such a way.• n. 1. plaster, clay, or another substance used for coating a surface. ∎  a patch or smear of a substance.2. a painting executed without much skill.

daub coat with a layer of mortar, etc. XIV; lay on colours crudely XVII. — OF. dauber :- L. dēalbāre whiten, whitewash, plaster, f. DE- 3 + albus white.
Hence daub sb. mortar, plaster XV; coarsely executed painting XVIII.

daub. Mud, clay, etc., placed on a backing. See also wattle-and-daub.