Adjective
styptic (comparative more styptic, superlative most styptic)
- 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.
- (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.
Noun
styptic (plural styptics)
- A substance used for styptic results.
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.