Obs. exc. Hist. [ad. mod.L. exsufflātiōn-em, n. of action f. exsufflāre: see prec. Cf. Fr. exsufflation.]
1. The action of blowing out; an instance of it.
1620. Venner, Via Recta (1650), 310. Let not with lesse diligence the superfluities of the nose by exsufflation.
a. 1626. Bacon, Physiol. Rem., Wks. 1727, VII. 209. It will fly upwards over the helm, by a kind of exsufflation, without vapouring.
1689. G. Harvey, Curing Dis. by Expect., xvi. 124. Such offensive Ebullitions and Exufflations.
1775. in Ash.
b. concr. That which is snuffled up.
1666. G. Harvey, Morb. Angl. (1672), iv. 45. Those … exufflations crowding into the sphere of the cranium do create most dreadful Head-akes.
2. Eccl. The action of blowing, performed by the priest upon a child or grown person at baptism, by way of exorcising the devil, or by the person baptized in token of renouncing the devil.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de W., 1506), I. iii. 17. By ye exsuflacyon yt the preest doth upon ye chylde.
1584. R. Scot, Discov. Witchcr., XV. xxiv. 440. The right order of exorcisme … requireth that exsufflation … be doone toward the west.
1709. J. Johnson, Clergym. Vade M., II. 267. The exorcisms and exsufflations made by the priest on persons to be baptized.
1858. Sat. Rev., 31 July, 103/1. The old Mumbo Jumbo of ‘unchristianizing the Legislature’ must not be consigned to the eternal limbo of all dead hypocrisies and shams without a parting exsufflation.
