counterirritant

[ koun-ter-ir-i-tuhnt ]

noun

1. Medicine/Medical. an agent for producing inflammation in superficial tissues to relieve pain or inflammation in deeper structures.
2. any irritation or annoyance that draws attention away from another.

adjective

1. Medicine/Medical. of or acting as a counterirritant.

counterirritant

/ ˌkaʊntərˈɪrɪtənt /

noun

1. an agent that causes a superficial irritation of the skin and thereby relieves inflammation of deep structures

adjective

1. producing a counterirritation

Derived Forms

• ˌcounterˌirriˈtation, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of counterirritant¹

First recorded in 1850–55; counter- + irritant

Example Sentences

Applied externally it is used as a counterirritant in skin diseases.

From Project Gutenberg

Apply strong counterirritant to chest and put seton in dewlap.

From Project Gutenberg

A product of the oxidation of ethylic alcohol and of the destructive distillation of wood, applied locally as a counterirritant.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• balm
• lotion