irroration
(ɪrɒˈreɪʃən)
[n. of action from irrorate v.: cf. F. irroration (1762 in Dict. Acad.).]
† 1. A sprinkling or wetting as with dew; a bedewing, besprinkling, moistening. Obs.
| 1623 Cockeram, Irroration, a sprinckling, a moystning. 1638 Rawley tr. Bacon's Life & Death (1651) 41 To the Irroration of the Body, much use of sweet things is profitable. 1672 Phil. Trans. VII. 5033 A confused irroration of the external surface, without any ebullition. 1784 tr. Spallanzani's Dissert. (L.), If..the irroration should be interrupted, the portion of eggs then excluded will be barren. |
2. Zool., esp. Entom. A sprinkling of minute dots or spots of colour.
| 1843 Humphreys Brit. Moths I. 124 Of a nearly uniform pale brownish buff, without irrorations. |