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noun

poultice

POHL-tihs

Poultice (noun) means a soft, warm, moist paste — often wrapped in cloth — applied to a sore or aching part of the body to soothe it. Example: “Her grandmother swore by a mustard poultice for chest colds.”

noun
1
A soft, warm, moist paste — often wrapped in cloth — applied to a sore or aching part of the body to soothe it.
"Her grandmother swore by a mustard poultice for chest colds."
"The nurse applied a poultice to draw out the infection."
verb
1
To treat a wound or sore area with a poultice.
"He poulticed the bee sting with baking soda and water."

How to use poultice

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA warm, mushy dressing you press onto a sore spot to draw out pain or infection.

Common pairings
apply a poultice mustard poultice poultice the wound

Word forms

poulticed past tense, poultices plural, poultices singular

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Her grandmother swore by a mustard _____ for chest colds.

Etymology

From Latin pultes, "porridge" — the same root as the word "pulse" (as in edible legumes).

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for poultice

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Frequently asked questions

What does “poultice” mean?

The word “poultice” means a soft, warm, moist paste — often wrapped in cloth — applied to a sore or aching part of the body to soothe it. In plain terms, a warm, mushy dressing you press onto a sore spot to draw out pain or infection.

How do you pronounce “poultice”?

“Poultice” is pronounced POHL-tihs (/ˈpoʊltɪs/ in IPA).

How do you use “poultice” in a sentence?

Here is “poultice” used in a sentence: “Her grandmother swore by a mustard poultice for chest colds.”

What is another word for “poultice”?

Words with a similar meaning to “poultice” include cataplasm.

What part of speech is “poultice”?

Depending on how it is used, “poultice” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “poultice” come from?

The word “poultice” comes from Latin. From Latin pultes, "porridge" — the same root as the word "pulse" (as in edible legumes).

How many meanings does “poultice” have?

“Poultice” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft, warm, moist paste — often wrapped in cloth — applied to a sore or aching part of the body to soothe it.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial