The term most probably originated from the phrase "dare una tonaca," to dress. From the 14th century, the term is used to indicate the dressing given to a wall, and is particularly important in the preparatory phase for the creation of a fresco (v.). The method, described by Vetruvius, includes the application of at least three layers: the first, generally indicated with the term roughcast (v.), consists of a thick mortar and is quite coarse; the second is the arricciato (v.), less irregular but also rough enough to allow for a good take of the final layer, the true intonacoor the intonachino, characterized by a uniform and level surface. As for the material, the intonaco is obtained by a mixture of binding elements (lime, cement and gesso) and inert elements (sand, pozzolano), dissolved in water.