Med. Also 7 cerat. [ad. L. cērātum cerate, neut. pa. pple. of cērāre to cover with wax, which seems to have in use varied with cērōtum, a. Gr. κηρωτόν cerate, neut. of κηρωτός waxed, covered with wax, f. κηροῦν to cover with wax. Cf. F. cérat (in Cotgr.), in 16th c. cérot.]
A kind of stiff ointment composed of wax together with lard or oil and other ingredients.
1543. Traheron, Vigo’s Chirurg., VIII. 199. The description of Oyntments, Cerates, Playsters, [etc.].
1658. Rowland, trans. Moufet’s Theat. Ins., 916. It [wax] is also the ground of all Cerats and Plaisters.
1810. Henry, Elem. Chem. (1840), II. 294. Fixed oils unite with wax, and form … cerates.
