a. and sb. Obs. [ad. Gr. ἐμπλαστικός, f. ἐμπλάσσειν: see EMPLASTER sb.]
A. adj. Fit to be used as a plaster; hence, adhesive, glutinous, viscid. Also [after late Gr. use], that stops up the pores.
1618. Latham, 2nd Bk. Falconry (1633), 140. It is also of an emplasticke or clammy quality.
1634. T. Johnson, trans. Parey’s Chirurg., VII. xxvii. (1678), 189. Medicins … acrid, oily, and emplastick.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., IV. 133/1. Wax … through its … emplastick faculty … fastning it self like Glew.
1756. C. Lucas, Ess. Waters, I. 53. To prevent the boiling over of unctuous and emplastic bodies.
1832. in Webster; and in mod. Dicts.
B. sb. An adhesive or glutinous substance.
1657. Tomlinson, Renou’s Disp., 125. An Emplastick should be of a terrene substance.
1721–1800. Bailey, Emplasticks, Medicines which constipate and shut up the Pores of the Body, that Sulphureous Vapours cannot pass.
1751. Stack, in Phil. Trans., XLVII. 269. Burgundy-pitch, or any other powerful emplastic.
