vesicant

[ ves-i-kuhnt ]

adjective

1. producing a blister or blisters, as a medicinal substance; vesicating.

noun

1. a vesicant agent or substance.
2. (in chemical warfare) a chemical agent that causes burns and destruction of tissue both internally and externally.

vesicant

/ ˈvɛsɪkənt; ˈvɛsɪˌkeɪtərɪ /

noun

1. any substance that causes blisters, used in medicine and in chemical warfare

adjective

1. acting as a vesicant

Word History and Origins

Origin of vesicant¹

1655–65; < New Latin vēsīcant- (stem of vēsīcāns ), present participle of vēsīcāre to vesicate; -ant

Word History and Origins

Origin of vesicant¹

C19: see vesica

Example Sentences

Following this, a vesicant is employed and the subject is allowed a month's rest.

From Project Gutenberg

Following the acute stage of such an infection, any local counter-irritating application or even a vesicant is in order.

From Project Gutenberg

Line-firing, instead of the vesicant is made use of by some, but the object desired is the same and results obtained are similar.

From Project Gutenberg

In these cases, subjects may be put into service after all swelling which the injection or the vesicant has produced has subsided.

From Project Gutenberg

Reduction having been affected, the application of a vesicant over the whole patellar region is customary.

From Project Gutenberg