counterirritant

American  

[koun-ter-ir-i-tuhnt] / ˌkaʊn tərˈɪr ɪ tənt /

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.

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adjective

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

counterirritant British  

/ ˌkaʊntərˈɪrɪtənt /

noun

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

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adjective

1. producing a counterirritation

Other Word Forms

• counterirritation noun

Etymology

Origin of counterirritant

First recorded in 1850–55; counter- + irritant

Example Sentences

Menthol is a counterirritant, which relieves underlying pain near the site of application by causing irritation at the surface.

From The Guardian • Jan. 16, 2013

Since then I have often wondered why the American press never reported on this Oriental medical treatment, called "counterirritant."

From Time Magazine Archive

Landa got into the fight nearly two years ago when Chicago's Fairbanks, Morse decided to back him financially as a counterirritant to Silberstein, who tried unsuccessfully to win control of Fair banks, Morse.

From Time Magazine Archive

Well, you take the two pails of ice water, throw a little dirt in them, to act as a counterirritant, strip, and stand with one foot in each pail.

From Time Magazine Archive

Ed says his father, out of desperation, tried the suggested cure, and it worked, in a way squaring with the modern medical theory of setting up a counterirritant in certain cases.

From Slave Narratives: A Folk History of Slavery in the United States From Interviews with Former Slaves: Volume X, Missouri Narratives by United States. Work Projects Administration

Related Words

• balm
• lotion