[ad. L. ēgestiōn-em, noun of action f. ēgerĕre: see prec.]
† 1. gen. The action of discharging or emptying out. In quot. concr. Obs.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., XI. 449. Now thai condite her must egestion [L. primo amne musti spumantis egesto] That wol with gipse her wynes medicyne.
2. Phys. The passing off of excreta from within the body; opposed to ingestion.
1670. Ray, Proverbs (1768), 8. Why the naming of some Excrements of the body, or the egestion of them is condemned.
1677. Hale, Prim. Orig. Man., I. i. 32. These natural or involuntary exertions of Digestion, Egestion, Circulation.
1847–9. Todd, Cycl. Anat., IV. 459/1. The functions of egestion are more immediately necessary to the maintenance of life than those of ingestion.
1878. Bell, trans. Gegenbaur’s Comp. Anat., 84. The form of which is very varied, and which at times contains the orifice of egestion also.
† b. spec. Evacuation of the bowels. Obs.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, xv. 12. They do defyle them selfe other by uryn, or by egestion, or both at once.
1578. Banister, Hist. Man, V. 64. The Muscles … are vnto egestion seruiceable.
1608. Topsell, Serpents, 229–30. He which is stung by a Scorpion … is … affected with … a continuall desire to egestion.
1710. Acc. Last Distemper Tom Whigg, I. 5. Sliced, a … Term in Hawking to signifie Egestion.
† c. Occasionally used for ‘vomiting.’ Obs.
1633. T. Adams, Exp. 2 Peter i. 20. 362. In allusion to the true Historie of Ionah, his swallowing and egestion by the Whale.
1633. Bp. Hall, Hard Texts, 383. By luke-warme water … the stomack is made apt to egestion.
d. concr. Excrement, † vomit.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 621. The excrements of his [the ox’s] belly and egestion or dung, for the amending and enriching of plowed lands.
1609. Bp. W. Barlow, Answ. Nameless Cath., 100. The vnsauorie egestion of a filthy strong stomake.
1610. Barrough, Meth. Physick, I. xvi. (1639), 25. For the most part their egestions be liquid.
1656. Hobbes, Six Lessons, Wks. 1845, VII. 324. To take wing … like beetles from my egestions.
1671. Salmon, Syn. Med., II. xlvi. 309. The Egestion, soft, equal, yellow, is well digested.
† 3. The expulsion of a product of digestion, secretion, etc., from the organ producing it. Also concr. Obs.
1643. Digby, Nat. Bodies, xxxv. (1658), 367. The arteries which lie fittest to receive these sudden egestions of blood.
1696. Phillips, Egestion, the Expulsion of Meat, digested through the Pylorus or gate of the Stomach, to the rest of the Intestines.
1715. in Kersey.
1721–1800. in Bailey.
