From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Plaster \Plas"ter\, n. [AS., a plaster (in sense 1), fr. L.
emplastrum, Gr. ?, ?, fr. ? to daub on, stuff in; ? in + ? to
mold: cf. OF. plastre a plaster (in sense 2), F. pl[^a]tre.
Cf. {Plastic}, {Emplaster}, {Piaster}.] [Formerly written
also {plaister}.]
1. (Med.) An external application of a consistency harder
than ointment, prepared for use by spreading it on linen,
leather, silk, or other material. It is adhesive at the
ordinary temperature of the body, and is used, according
to its composition, to produce a medicinal effect, to bind
parts together, etc.; as, a porous plaster; sticking
plaster.
[1913 Webster]
2. A composition of lime, water, and sand, with or without
hair as a bond, for coating walls, ceilings, and
partitions of houses. See {Mortar}.
[1913 Webster]
3. Calcined gypsum, or plaster of Paris, especially when
ground, as used for making ornaments, figures, moldings,
etc.; or calcined gypsum used as a fertilizer.
[1913 Webster]
{Plaster cast}, a copy of an object obtained by pouring
plaster of Paris mixed with water into a mold.
{Plaster of Paris}. [So called because originally brought
from a suburb of Paris.] (Chem.) Anhydrous calcium
sulphate, or calcined gypsum, which forms with water a
paste which soon sets or hardens, and is used for casts,
moldings, etc. The term is loosely applied to any plaster
stone or species of gypsum.
{Plaster of Paris bandage} (Surg.), a bandage saturated with
a paste of plaster of Paris, which on drying forms a
perfectly fitting splint.
{Plaster stone}, any species of gypsum. See {Gypsum}.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
plaster of Paris
n 1: any of several gypsum cements; a white powder (a form of
calcium sulphate) that forms a paste when mixed with water
and hardens into a solid; used in making molds and
sculptures and casts for broken limbs [syn: {plaster of
Paris}, {plaster}]
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