styptic

English

Alternative forms

• styptick (obsolete)

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin stypticus, itself borrowed from Ancient Greek στυπτικός (stuptikós), from στύφω (stúphō, “to contract”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈstɪptɪk/
• Rhymes: -ɪptɪk

Adjective

styptic (comparative more styptic, superlative most styptic)

1. Bringing about contraction of tissues; harsh, raw, austere.
   • 1982, TC Boyle, Water Music, Penguin, published 2006, page 328:

     Boyles turns to look over his shoulder, squinting into the styptic sun, and then flags a hand over his head.

2. (medicine, by extension) That stops bleeding; especially, in a minor way, topically.

   Hypernym: hemostatic

   • 1973, Nicholas Monsarrat, The Kapillan of Malta:

     The growth on top was a scrubby plant, unknown anywhere else on Malta, which was believed to have styptic qualities – it could staunch bleeding when packed on top of a wound […].

   • 1959, Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon:

     But I waited while he dabbed at the cut with styptic powder.

Derived terms

• hemostyptic
• styptic pencil
• styptic tree

Noun

styptic (plural styptics)

1. A substance used for styptic results.

   Coordinate term: coagulant

   • 1876, Henry Beasley, The Book of Prescriptions:

     The powdered gum with resin is used as a styptic; and the mucilage has been recommended as an application to burns.

   • 1889, John Barclay Biddle, Materia Medica and Therapeutics: For Physicians and Students:

     Externally, it is applied as a styptic, and in solution, of various strengths, as an astringent.

   • 1990, A. L. Tommie Bass et al., Herbal Medicine Past and Present:

     Knowledge of puffball's use as a styptic and for hemorrhoids reached Bass through the popular tradition.