Also 5 colerium, 5–7 collirium, 7 collurium. Pl. collyria; also 7–8 collyriums. [L. collȳrium (in med.L. col(l)irium), a. Gr. κολλύριον poultice, eye-salve, dim. of κολλύρα roll of coarse bread.]
1. A topical remedy for disorders of the eyes; an eye-salve or eye-wash.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., V. xxix. (1495), 140. Colerium is a pryncypall medycyne for the eye. Ibid., XVI. lxviii. 575. Colliria ben oynementes that helpe the eyen.
1562. Turner, Herbal, II. 67 a. The medicines of the eyes called collyria.
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. (1653), 215. Collyriums or lotions for the infirmities of the eyes.
1757. Brooke, in Phil. Trans., LI. 82. Caustics behind the ears, and vitriolic collyriums, cured her.
1854. Badham, Halieut., 66. Tragasœan salt was used … as collyrium for the eyes of horses.
fig. 1563–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1684), III. 258. Take Christs Collyrium and Eye-salve to anoint your eyes.
1660. Fuller, Mixt Contempl. (1841), 171. Poverty may prove a good collyrium, or eye-salve … to make a true discovery of those things we knew not before.
1847. Emerson, Repr. Men, Wks. (Bohn), I. 284. Great men are thus a collyrium to clear our eyes from egotism.
1853. C. Brontë, Villette, xxxiv. 377. His tomes … were collyrium to the spirit’s eyes.
2. A solid medicine made up in a cylindrical form to be introduced into any of the openings of the body, as the anus, nostril, etc.; a suppository.
1748. trans. Vegetius Renatus Distemp. Horses, 164. You shall put into it a Collyrium or Dosil made of Honey and meal of bitter Vetches.
1874. trans. Van Buren’s Dis. Genit. Org., 87. Astringent collyria are useless.
3. loosely. Any application for the eyes, as the koḥ’l used by eastern women: cf. ALCOHOL.
1624. B. Jonson, Fortunate Isles. I will but touch your temples, The corners of your eyes, and tinct the tip … o’ your nose, with this collyrium.
1883. Mrs. Armytage, in Fortn. Rev., Sept., 344. Egyptian beauties … heightening their charms with collyrium and henna.
