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

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

Despite President Roosevelt's fervid interest in naval shipbuilding as a counterirritant to unemployment, the U. S. will not be up to Treaty par before 1939.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

From Time Magazine Archive

The ordinary use of a seton is to keep up constant drainage from a cavity containing matter or to act as a stimulant or counterirritant.

From Special Report on Diseases of Cattle by United States. Bureau of Animal Industry

Related Words

• balm
• lotion