A stain or discoloration caused by the weather. Also fig.
1815. Scott, Guy M., iii. The grey old towers … bearing the rusty weather-stains of ages.
1817. T. L. Peacock, Melincourt, vii. Though I have endeavoured to leave them as much mould, mildew and weather-stain as possible.
1847. Emerson, Poems, ‘Butler, fetch the ruby wine,’ 43. Give me wine to wash me clean Of the weather-stains of cares.
1858. Hawthorne, Fr. & It. Note-bks. (1871), II. 54. A marble statue, grey with ancient weather-stains.
Also Weather-stained ppl. a., Weather-staining vbl. sb.
1851. H. Melville, Whale, xvi. She was a ship of the old school,… Long-seasoned and weather-stained in the typhoons and calms of all four oceans.
1868. A. K. H. Boyd, Less. Middle Age, 16. The lowly dwelling … with its weather-stained walls.
1884. Daily News, 4 Sept., 3/1. The only detriment time has wrought in the monument is the weather-staining of the marble statues.
