Forms: 6 cycatryce, -ise, 7 -ize, sicatrice, 5, 7– cicatrice. [a. F. cicatrice, (16th c.) ad. L. cicātrīcem CICATRIX.]
1. The scar of a healed wound: = CICATRIX 1.
c. 1450. Mirour Saluacioun, 4091 (1888), 134. Crist his Cicatrices wold shewe his fadere for vs.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg. In places wherin we wolde that no cycatryce shulde appere, as in ye face.
1607. Shaks., Cor., II. i. 164. Ith’ Shoulder, and ith’ left Arme: there will be large Cicatrices to shew the People.
1666. G. Harvey, Morb. Angl., xiv. 163. The cicatrize, or agglutination is performed by a dissolvable … kind of humour.
1865. Livingstone, Zambesi, xxi. 438. The Makoa are known by a cicatrice in the forehead.
fig. 1603. Holland, Plutarch’s Mor., 105. These cicatrices and scarres of false imputations.
1849. Cobden, Speeches, 87. Not to grant loans at your expense—not to maintain a great army at your expense—not to place a temporary cicatrice over the sores of Ireland, but to remedy them.
b. loosely. A scar-like mark or impression.
1600. Shaks., A. Y. L., III. 23. Leane vpon a rush, The Cicatrice and capable impressure Thy palme some moment keepes.
2. transf. A scar on the bark of a tree.
c. 1420. Pallad. on Husb., III. 352. Thus graffe under the rynde a bough or tree, There cicatrice is noon.
1789. G. White, Selborne (1853), II. xxviii. 240. A row of pollard-ashes with long cicatrices down their sides.
Cicatrice, obs. form of CICATRIZE.
