poultice: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Medical, Historical, Literary; informal metaphorical use.
Quick answer
What does “poultice” mean?
A soft, moist mass of natural materials applied to the body to reduce inflammation, draw out infection, or soothe soreness.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A soft, moist mass of natural materials applied to the body to reduce inflammation, draw out infection, or soothe soreness.
Any soothing or curative substance applied to a problem, used metaphorically (e.g., a financial poultice for debt).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The word is understood in both varieties but might be slightly more familiar in British English due to historical/herbal remedy contexts. The metaphorical use is equally rare in both.
Connotations
Connotes traditional, non-pharmaceutical, sometimes unsophisticated treatment.
Frequency
Low frequency in both, primarily found in historical texts, herbal medicine, or metaphorical extension.
Grammar
How to Use “poultice” in a Sentence
apply a poultice TO [body part]poultice [object] WITH [substance]use X as a poulticeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “poultice” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She poulticed the horse's leg with kaolin clay.
- The old remedy involved poulticing the abscess.
American English
- He poulticed the splinter wound with a bread and milk mixture.
- They poulticed the swelling to draw out the poison.
adverb
British English
- N/A (not standard).
American English
- N/A (not standard).
adjective
British English
- N/A (not standard).
American English
- N/A (not standard).
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; metaphorically: 'The bailout was merely a financial poultice.'
Academic
Found in history of medicine, anthropology, and literature.
Everyday
Very rare except in contexts of traditional/herbal home care.
Technical
Used in herbalism, some alternative medicine, and historical medical texts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “poultice”
- Misspelling as 'poultise' or 'poultive'. Using it to mean a bandage or a dry dressing.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Very similar. A poultice typically refers to a moist mass of herbs, meal, or clay applied directly to the skin, often to draw out impurities. A compress is usually a cloth soaked in a liquid and applied.
Yes, though it is rare. It means to apply a poultice to something (e.g., 'She poulticed the wound').
Bread and milk, mustard meal, flaxseed, kaolin clay, crushed herbs (like comfrey or plantain), and activated charcoal have all been used historically.
Not in everyday modern medicine. It is primarily used in the context of herbalism, traditional remedies, historical writing, and occasionally as a metaphor.
A soft, moist mass of natural materials applied to the body to reduce inflammation, draw out infection, or soothe soreness.
Poultice is usually medical, historical, literary; informal metaphorical use. in register.
Poultice: in British English it is pronounced /ˈpəʊltɪs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈpoʊltɪs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a poultice for the problem (metaphorical)”
- “throw a poultice at it (derisive for a superficial fix)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'POULT' sounds like 'bolt'. Imagine bolting a soothing, moist BOLT of cloth onto a wound.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PROBLEM IS AN INFLAMMATION / A SOLUTION IS A SOOTHING APPLICATION.
Practice
Quiz
In a metaphorical sense, describing a solution as a 'poultice' implies it is: