Med. [a. F. cataplasme, ad. L. cataplasma, a. Gr. κατάπλασμα poultice, f. κατα-πλάσσειν to plaster over, apply a plaster.] A poultice: formerly also a plaster.
1563. T. Gale, Antidot., I. i. 2. Cataplasmes made with the iuse of these herbes, and with floure.
1602. Shaks., Ham., IV. vii. 144. No Cataplasme so rare, Collected from all Simples that haue Vertue Vnder the Moone, can saue the thing from death.
1612. Woodall, Surg. Mate, Wks. (1653), 90. A Cataplasme made of bread crums, milk, and a little Saffron.
1626. Cockeram, Cataplasme, a plaister, compounded of certaine oyntments to cure sores.
c. 1720. Gibson, Farrier’s Dispens., xiii. (1734), 261. Some make a distinction between Poultise and Cataplasm.
1866. S. Thomson, Dict. Dom. Med., 356. The well known mustard plaster or cataplasm.
b. fig.
1622. Fletcher, Spanish Cur., IV. v. This Cataplasm of a well-cozened Lawyer.
1796. Burke, Regic. Peace, Wks. VIII. 135. The emollient cataplasms of robbery and confiscation.
1831. Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), I. 462. Endeavour has been made to provide a cataplasm.
