Forms: 5–8 clister, 6–7 clystre, 5 clyster; 5 glystere, 6–8 glister, 6–9 glyster. [a. F. clystère (13th c. in Littré), or L. clyster, -ēris, Gr. κλυστήρ clyster-pipe, syringe, clyster, f. κλύζ-ειν to wash or rinse out, drench.]
1. A medicine injected into the rectum, to empty or cleanse the bowels, to afford nutrition, etc.; an injection, enema; sometimes, a suppository.
α. clyster, clister.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VII. vii. (1495), 228. In Litargy ouer all thynge the pacyent shall haue a clister.
1543. Traheron, Vigo’s Chirurg., VIII. xviii. 216. A Clyster is a noble remedye to dryue out superfluitees of the guttes.
1615. Crooke, Body of Man, 44. Nourishing Clisters do not ascend vnto the stomacke.
1671. Boyle, Usefulness Nat. Philos., II. V. xiv. Clysters of the smoke of tobacco.
1691. Wood, Ath. Oxon., I. 330. A poyson’d Clister [was] given to him, under pretence of curing him.
1800. Med. Jrnl., IV. 479. For the last ten days of his life, he was supported by broth clysters.
β. glyster, glister.
c. 1440. Glystere [see CLYSTERY].
1546. Langley, Pol. Verg. De Invent., I. xvii. 32 a. The Ibis … taught Phisicians to minister Glisters.
1602. 2nd Pt. Return fr. Parnass., II. xi. (Arb.), 20. With a suppositor or a glister.
1625. Hart, Anat. Ur., iv. 69. The injection of an anodine, or mitigating glister.
1780. Phil. Trans., LXX. App. 39. Given … as a glister.
b. fig.
1590. Greene, Mourn. Garm. (1610), 59. My purse began with so many purging glisters to waxe not only laxatiue, but quite emptie.
1602. Fulbecke, Pandectes Law Nations, 81. To purge their blacke iaundise with a glister of inke.
1633. Shirley, Bird in Cage, I. i. He’s a slight physician cannot give a golden glister at a dead lift.
† 2. The pipe or syringe used in injection; a clyster-pipe. Obs. rare.
1527. Andrew, Brunswyke’s Distyll. Waters, D ij. The same … with a spout or clystre spouted in the fondament.
† b. transf. A pipe, tube. Obs.
1578. Lyte, Dodoens, II. xliii. 202. This kind of Lillie beareth at the toppe of the stalke and also amongst his leaues as it were certayne pypes or clysters.
1649. G. Daniel, Trinarch., To Rdr. 126. Finches are taught to Cherrip wth the Quill Mouth Clyster, and their Notes their Panches fill.
† 3. A contemptuous name for a medical practitioner (cf. CLYSTER-PIPE). Obs.
1621. Fletcher, Thierry, i. sc. 1. [addressing a physician] What’s that to you, or any, Ye dross, you powder’d pigs-bones, rubarbe glisters?
4. Comb., as clyster-syringe; clysterwise adv.
1654. Gayton, Pleas. Notes, II. ii. 39. A little Paracelsian Apothecary, Clyster-high.
1705. T. Greenhill, Art Embalming, 273. This Balsamic Liquor thus Clysterwise immitted into the Intestins.
c. 1720. W. Gibson, Farrier’s Dispens., x. (1734), 246. Administer it Clysterwise blood warm.
