tempera

noun

1. a technique of painting in which an emulsion consisting of water and pure egg yolk or a mixture of egg and oil is used as a binder or medium, characterized by its lean film-forming properties and rapid drying rate.
2. a painting executed in this technique.
3. a water paint used in this technique in which the egg-water or egg-oil emulsion is used as a binder.Compare distemper2(defs 1, 2).

noun

1. a painting medium for powdered pigments, consisting usually of egg yolk and water
2. 1. any emulsion used as a painting medium, with casein, glue, wax, etc, as a base
   2. the paint made from mixing this with pigment
3. the technique of painting with tempera

n.1832, from Italian tempera (in phrase pingere a tempera), from temperare “to mix colors, temper,” from Latin temperare “to mix” (see temper (v.)).