rubefacient

[roo-buh-fey-shuhnt]

adjective

1. causing redness of the skin, as a medicinal application.

noun

1. Medicine/Medical.,  a rubefacient application, as a mustard plaster.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rubefacient¹

1795–1805; < Latin rubefacient- (stem of rubefaciēns, present participle of rubefacere “to redden”), equivalent to rube-, variant stem of rubēre “to redden, be red” + -facient- -facient ( def. )

Example Sentences

But, on the whole, heat is preferable to rubefacients, and moist to dry heat.

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Externally applied as a rubefacient, it has been found to relieve headache and toothache.

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A milder degree of skin-stimulation is represented by rubefacient liniments of various kinds, which may be briskly rubbed into the skin along the track of the painful nerve, without any danger of producing vesication.

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If the circulation slackens, if the skin turns cold, take a piece of wool, coat it with rubefacient liniment, and rub the animal therewith, more particularly along the spine.

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Externally chloroform is an antiseptic, a local anaesthetic if allowed to evaporate, and a rubefacient, causing the vessels of the skin to dilate, if rubbed in.

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