a. [ad. L. fistulōs-us: see prec. and -OUS.]
1. Path. Of or pertaining to a fistula; of the nature of a fistula; attacked by a fistula.
1611. Cotgr., Injection … a squirting, or conueying of a liquid medicine … into a hollow and fistulous vlcer.
1721. S. Sewall, Diary, 13 March (1882), III. 284. Mr. Joseph Prout disabled by his fistulous thigh.
1797. Baillie, Morb. Anat. (1807), 337. While the obstruction in the Urethra continues, the opening made by the breaking of the abscess is not disposed to heal, but a fistulous orifice is gradually formed.
1869. E. A. Parkes, A Manual of Practical Hygiene (ed. 3), 98. This skin is also irritated if the salt is rubbed on it, and fistulous sores are apt to be produced.
2. a. Resembling a pipe or tube in form, tubular. b. Having or containing a tube or tubes; honeycombed with small tubes. c. Of a flower: Having many long hollow florets.
1578. J. Banister, The Historie of Man, IV. 48 b. The flesh of it [the tongue] is rare, Fistulous, & soft.
1601. Holland, Pliny, I. XI. i. 310. Hanging togither only by a little pipe and fistulous conveyance. Ibid. (1603), Plutarch’s Mor., 1009. As for the flesh of the Polype, it is to see to, fistulous and spongeous, like unto hony-combs, apt to receive all such defluxions and decisions from other bodies.
1671. Grew, The Anatomy of Plants, I. v. (1682) 39. In its shape very well resembling the Fistulous Pouches of Wake-Robin, or of Dragon.
1688. J. Clayton, in Phil. Trans., XVIII. 128. Vipers, and all the Viperous Brood, as Rattle-Snakes, &c. that are deadly, have I believe their Poisonous Teeth Fistulous.
1712. trans. Pomet’s Hist. Drugs, I. 185. The Flowers grow upon small Twigs, being not much unlike the Flowers of the Orange Tree; but single leav’d, having their lower Part fistulous, and their upper Part starr’d like a hollow Cup.
1830. Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 159. Elatineæ.… Stems fistulous, rooting.
1858. Times, 4 Nov., 7/3. The careworn soil … pierced with fistulous passages of miles of hard piping.
