▪ I. clyster, n.
(ˈklɪstə(r))
Forms: 5–8 clister, 6–7 clystre, 5 clyster; 5 glystere, 6–8 glister, 6–9 glyster.
[a. F. clystère (13th c. in Littré), or L. clyster, -ēris, Gr. κλυστήρ a clyster-pipe, syringe, clyster, f. κλύζ-ειν to wash or rinse out, drench.]
1. A medicine injected into the rectum, to empty or cleanse the bowels, to afford nutrition, etc.; an injection, enema; sometimes, a suppository.
(α) clyster, clister.
| 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. vii. vii. (1495) 228 In Litargy ouer all thynge the pacyent shall haue a clister. 1543 Traheron Vigo's Chirurg. viii. xviii. 216 A Clyster is a noble remedye to dryue out superfluitees of the guttes. 1615 Crooke Body of Man 44 Nourishing Clisters do not ascend vnto the stomacke. 1671 Boyle Usefulness Nat. Philos. ii. v. xiv, Clysters of the smoke of tobacco. 1691 Wood Ath. Oxon. I. 330 A poyson'd Clister [was] given to him, under pretence of curing him. 1800 Med. Jrnl. IV. 479 For the last ten days of his life, he was supported by broth clysters. |
(β) glyster, glister.
| c 1440 Glystere [see clystery]. 1546 Langley Pol. Verg. De Invent. i. xvii. 32 a, The Ibis..taught Phisicians to minister Glisters. 1602 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass. ii. xi. (Arb.) 20 With a suppositor or a glister. 1625 Hart Anat. Ur. iv. 69 The injection of an anodine, or mitigating glister. 1780 Phil. Trans. LXX. App. 39 Given..as a glister. |
b. fig.
| 1590 Greene Mourn. Garm. (1610) 59 My purse began with so many purging glisters to waxe not only laxatiue, but quite emptie. 1602 W. Fulbecke Pandectes Law Nations 81 To purge their blacke iaundise with a glister of inke. 1633 Shirley Bird in Cage i. i, He's a slight physician cannot give a golden glister at a dead lift. |
† 2. The pipe or syringe used in injection; a clyster-pipe. Obs. rare.
| 1527 Andrew Brunswyke's Distyl. Waters D ij, The same..with a spout or clystre spouted in the fondament. |
† b. transf. A pipe, tube. Obs.
| 1578 Lyte Dodoens ii. xliii. 202 This kind of Lillie beareth at the toppe of the stalke and also amongst his leaues as it were certayne pypes or clysters. 1649 G. Daniel Trinarch. To Rdr. 126 Finches are taught to Cherrip w{supt}{suph} the Quill Mouth Clyster, and their Notes their Panches fill. |
† 3. A contemptuous name for a medical practitioner (cf. clyster-pipe). Obs.
| 1621 Fletcher Thierry i. sc. 1 [addressing a physician] What's that to you, or any, Ye dross, you powder'd pigs⁓bones, rubarbe glisters? |
4. Comb., as clyster-syringe; clysterwise adv.
| 1654 Gayton Pleas. Notes ii. ii. 39 A little Paracelsian Apothecary, Clyster-high. 1705 T. Greenhill Art Embalming 273 This Balsamic Liquor thus Clysterwise immitted into the Intestins. c 1720 W. Gibson Farriers Dispens. x. (1734) 246 Administer it Clysterwise blood warm. |
▪ II. clyster, v.
(ˈklɪstə(r))
[f. the n.]
trans. To treat with clysters. Hence ˈclystering vbl. n.
| c 1488 Liber Niger in Househ. Ord. 34 This lettyng blode or clystryng, is to avoyde pestylence. 1684 [see clysmatic]. 1733 Fielding Quixote in Eng. ii. xiv, I shall order him bleeding, glistering, vomiting..and cupping. 1846 J. Baxter Libr. Pract. Agric. II. 152 Patent Veterinary Syringe for relieving hoven cattle, and clystering them. |