Poultice
//ˈpoʊltɪs// noun, verb
noun, verb ·Moderate ·College level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A soft, moist mass, usually wrapped in cloth and warmed, that is applied topically to a sore, aching or lesioned part of the body to soothe it.
"The poultice relaxeth the pores."
- 2 a medical dressing consisting of a soft heated mass of meal or clay that is spread on a cloth and applied to the skin to treat inflamed areas or improve circulation etc. wordnet
- 3 A porous solid filled with solvent, used to remove stains from porous stone such as marble or granite.
Verb
- 1 To treat with a poultice. transitive
- 2 dress by covering with a therapeutic substance wordnet
Example
More examples"Besides easing aches and pains, Adams says the pleasant aroma of the California sagebrush helps people relax. He says a plant called Spanish Bayonet was used by American Indians for food. Its leaves and roots produce a kind of soap, and the fiber from the stems can be used as a poultice for wounds, and for making clothing."
Etymology
From Middle English pultes, from Latin pultes, plural of puls. The phonological development from Middle English is regular; compare poultry.
Related phrases
More for "poultice"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.