Poultice
/ˈpoʊl.tɪs/noun
A soft, moist mass of bread, herbs, clay, or other material applied to the body to soothe or heal.
Did you know?The word ultimately comes from Latin *puls*, meaning a thick porridge or mush, so the “mystical healer” was originally just a humble grain paste.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*pel-
“to beat, crush, or grind”
Latin
Latin
puls
“thick porridge or mush made from grain”
Late Latin
Latin
pultes / pulticula
“a soft mash or poultice-like preparation”
Old French
Old French
poultice
“a medicinal soft mass applied to the body”
Middle English
English
poultice
“a soft medicinal dressing”
Modern English
English
poultice
“a moist mass applied to the skin to relieve inflammation or draw out infection”