Forms: α. 5–6 fystel, (6 fistle, fystle, -yl), 6–7 fistule, (6 fystule). β. 6 fystela, fistulay, -ey, fistelow, -olo(e, phistilo, 6–7 fistulo(e, 7 fistila, 6– fistula, [a. L. fistula pipe, flute (also in pathological sense = 1), of which the popular representative in OE. was festre, FESTER sb.
In Eng. the word appears first in adapted forms, perh. taken from OF. fistle, fistute.]
1. Pathol. A long, narrow, suppurating canal of morbid origin in some part of the body; a long, sinuous pipe-like ulcer with a narrow orifice.
α. 1481. Caxton, Reynard (Arb.), 82. Colyk, stranguyllyon, stone, fystel or kanker or ony other sekenes.
1527. Andrew, Brunswyke’s Distyll. Waters, C iv. It is good for to wasshe the fystules with the same water twyse in a day & clowtes we therin & layd vpon the fystule.
1547. Boorde, Brev. Health, § 236. A fystle.
1599. A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physicke, 318/2. This cureth all wounds, and all Fistles, it repelleth all proude fleshe, wherefore we must alwayes haue it in præparation.
β. [1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VII. lix. (1495), 274. Fistula, the fester is a postume that … rootyth wythin.]
1563. T. Gale, Antidotarie, II. 25. This vnguent I haue found great profyte in, to mundifie sores, for it taketh away rotten fleshe wythout anye greate payne, it doeth also profyte muche in Fistulays, and hollowe Ulcers, yf it bee mingled wyth some conuenient lycour, and conueyed in wyth a syringe.
c. 1570. Sir H. Gilbert, Q. Eliz. Acad. (1869), 5. One Doctor of phisick, who shall one day reade phisick, and another daie Chirurgerie, in the Englishe toung, towching all kindes of Vlcers, Sores, Phistiloes, wowndes, &c.
1579. Langham, Gard. Health (1633), 12. It is good for all wounds, fistilaes, and sores of the mouth.
1671. Salmon, Syn. Med., III. xxii. 423. It cools Feavers and cures Ulcers, Fistulas, Cancers.
1732. Arbuthnot, Rules of Diet, 360. It happens sometimes to end in a Fistula, with which the Patient may live many Years in no great Uneasiness.
1879. Green, Read. Eng. Hist., xviii. 89. Henry, notwithstanding his fistula and his fever, was able to sit on horseback.
fig. 1581. J. Bell, Haddon’s Answ. Osor., 389 b. Fosteryng continually this fretting Fistula within the Bowels of the Christian common weale.
1622. W. Whately, God’s Husb., II. 48. An heart diseased with that grievous fistula of hypocrisie.
1644. Bulwer, Chiron., 5. The mouth is but a running sore and hollow fistula of the minde.
b. in animals, birds, etc.
1607. Markham, Cavelarice, VII. xxvi. 45, heading. Of the Poll euill or Fistula in the Necke. Ibid. (1614), Cheap Husb., VIII. xvi. (1668), 133. The Fistula in hawks is a cankerous, hollow Ulcer in any part of a hawks body.
1678. Lond. Gaz., No. 1311/4. A sorrel Gelding … having formerly had a Fistula.
1861. G. F. Berkeley, Sportsm. W. Prairies, x. 162. Sylph [a mare] had a very bad blemish as far as appearances went, from having been blistered too severely on the withers, where a fistula had evidently been apprehended.
2. Bot. = Cassia fistula: see CASSIA 4.
1812. J. Smyth, Pract. of Customs, 53. This is the purgative fruit or pods of the Cassia Fistula, black or purging Fistula.
3. A natural or normal pipe or spout in cetaceous animals, insects, etc. (see quots.).
1646. Sir T. Browne, Pseud. Ep., III. xix. 154. Like cetaceous animals and Whales, the Lamprey hath a fistula spout or pipe at the back part of the head. Ibid. (1658), III. xxvi. 215. The Fistula or spout [of the Whale].
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., Introd. They [Mollusca] have a fistule above the head before the alveus which they move about.
1848. Maunder, Treas. Nat. Hist., Gloss. App. Fistula. The intermediate subquadrangular pipe, in insects, formed by the union of the two branches of the antlia, which conveys the nectar to the pharynx.
4. Eccl. A tube through which in early times communicants received the consecrated wine; now used by the Pope only.
1670. Lassels, Voy. Italy, II. 53. The fistula, or pipe of gold wherewith the Pope receives the consecrated blood of our Sauiour in the Chalice upon great dayes.
1847. Ecclesiologist, VIII. Oct., 99. He held the chalice with his right hand, and the fistula in the chalice with his left, while the brethren in order imbibed.
ǁ 5. Mus. A reed instrument or pipe of the ancient Romans.
1717. Lady M. W. Montagu, Lett. (1893), I. 301. A rural instrument, perfectly answering the description of the ancient fistula, being composed of unequal reeds.
1722. J. Richardson, Statues Italy, etc., 185. One sits upon a Rock playing on a Fistula.
1727. Pope, Mem. M. Scriblerus, I. v. Wks. 1741, II. 19. I will have it [the Whistle] exactly to correspond with the ancient Fistula.
