putty

A cement made of fine, powdered chalk or white lead, mixed with linseed oil. It is used for filling wood, and for fixing glass in frames. It hardens slowly on exposure to air. Putty powder is a fine, tin oxide powder used for polishing glass and granite.

Putty is a generic term for a plastic material similar in texture to clay or dough typically used in domestic construction and repair as a sealant or filler.

Specifically putty has been used extensively in glazing for fixing and sealing panes of glass into wooden frames (or sashes), although its use is decreasing with the prevalence of PVC and metal window frames which use synthetic sealants such as silicone.

Certain types of putty also have use in the field of terminal ballistics, where the putty can accurately represent the average density of the human body.

Glazing putty is traditionally made by mixing a base of whiting (finely ground chalk) with linseed oil in various proportions, however a number of synthetic alternatives exist.

In woodworking, water-based putties are more commonly used, as these emit very little odour, are more easily cleaned up and are compatible with water-based and latex sealers.

The term "putty" is also used to describe a light beigeish colour often used for computer equipment.