styptic

/ˈstɪptɪk/

Other forms: styptics

In medicine, something that's styptic is meant to stop the flow of blood. Some people have styptic pencils in their medicine cabinets in case they cut themselves shaving.

Styptic agents (like styptic pencils) slow bleeding from cuts. They contain astringents that work to contract tissue and seal blood vessels, and before the invention of safety razors, they were a common part of shaving kits. The Greek root of styptic is styphein, "to constrict."

Definitions of styptic

1. adjective

   tending to check bleeding by contracting the tissues or blood vessels
   synonyms: hemostatic

   astringent

   tending to draw together or constrict soft organic tissue
2. noun

   a drug that causes contraction of body tissues and canals
   synonyms: astringent, astringent drug

   types:

   alum

   a double sulphate of aluminum and potassium that is used as an astringent (among other things)

   type of:

   medicament, medication, medicinal drug, medicine

   (medicine) something that treats or prevents or alleviates the symptoms of disease