Path. [mod.L., a. Gr. ξήρωσις, f. ξηρός dry: see -OSIS.] = XEROMA; spec. = xeroderma (see XERO-). Also attrib.
1890. Billings, Nat. Med. Dict., Xerosis, a drying, dryness.
1899. Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 661. To the milder forms [of ichthyosis] the names xerodermia and xerosis are frequently … applied.
1900. Brit. Med. Jrnl., 17 March, 622/2. Xerosis bacilli were present.
So Xerotic a. [see -OTIC], affected with xerosis: Xerotine a., in xerotine siccative, trade-name of a substance used for drying ships’ bottoms.
1882. Standard, 14 Jan., 4/7. An explosion of xerotine siccative on board her Majesty’s ship Triumph.
1890. Billings, Nat. Med. Dict., Xerotic, dry.
1893. Westm. Gaz., 5 Oct., 3/1. The sad loss of H.M.S. Dotterel..., presumably from the effects of an explosion … of Xerotine Siccative, supplied as patent driers.
1901. Dorland, Med. Dict. (ed. 2), Xerotic, characterized by xerosis, or dryness.
