a. and sb. Also 6 lachrimall, 6–7 lachrymall, 8 lacrimal, 8–9 lacrymal. [ad. med.L. lacrimālis, lachrymālis (Lanfranc), f. L. lacrima, lacruma, OL. dacruma, cognate with Gr. δάκρυ a tear. Cf. OF. lacrimel, lachrymal (F. lacrimal).
The ch of the prevailing spelling of this and the related words is due to the med. L. practice of writing ch for c before Latin r; cf. anchor, pulchritude, sepulchre. The y, in med.L. a mere graphic variant of i, has been retained in mod. Eng. orthography from the erroneous notion that lacrima is an adoption of Gr. δάκρῡμα. The theoretically correct spelling lacrim- has at present no currency, but some writers have adopted the half-correction lacrym-.]
A. adj.
1. Of or pertaining to tears; occas. characterized by, or indicative of, weeping. Of a vase: Intended to contain tears.
1803. Jane Porter, Thaddeus (1809), III. iii. 70. A lachrymal scene.
1809. W. Irving, Knickerb. (1861), 149. Collecting the drops of public sorrow into his volume, as into a lachrymal vase.
1809. Syd. Smith, Methodism, Wks. 1854, I. 299. The lachrymal and suspirious clergy.
1837. Marryat, Dog-fiend, ix. Small-bones made up a lachrymal face.
1855. Bain, Senses & Int., II. iv. § 22 (1864), 297. The lachrymal effusion is an accompaniment of grief.
2. Anat. and Phys. Applied to the organs concerned in the secretion of tears, as lachrymal canal, duct, gland, sac, etc., and to structures forming part of these organs, as lachrymal bone, sinus, etc. Lachrymal fistula, one situated between the skin of the cheek and the interior of the lachrymal sac.
[c. 1400. Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 252. Fistula lacrimalis.]
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 40/1. Archigenes hath cauterised the lachrimall fistles with liquefacted leade.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 367. The fistulaes which are between the lachrymall corners of the eies and the nose.
1696. Phillips, Lachrymal-Point [= L. punctum lachrymale], a Hole in the Bone of the Nose, by which the matter that makes Tears passes to the Nostrils.
1727. Bradley, Fam. Dict., I. s.v. Eye, It … readily closes up all lacrimal Fistulæs.
1780. Blizard, in Phil. Trans., LXX. 239. The internal surface of the lachrymal sac.
1787. Hunter, Ibid., LXXVII. 438. The lachrymal gland is small.
1800. Med. Jrnl., III. 78. From these lachrymal ducts … the tears flow through the ducts of the nasal bones.
1855. Holden, Human Osteol. (1878), 101. The lachrymal bone is situated … on the inner wall of the orbit.
1868. Nat. Encycl., I. 803. Many antelopes possess lachrymal or sub-orbital sinuses.
1872. Huxley, Physiol., ix. 235. The secretion of the lachrymal canal is carried away as fast as it forms.
1879. Harlan, Eyesight, ii. 27. The lachrymal apparatus consists of the gland for secreting tears and the passages for draining them off.
3. nonce-uses. Resembling a tear or tears.
1607. Brewer, Lingua, IV. i. H, A great quantity of drop shot both round and lachrimall.
1829. Galt, in Blackw. Mag., XXVI. 143. The milk was pale and lachrymal.
B. sb.
1. pl. The lachrymal organs.
1541. R. Copland, Guydon’s Quest. Chirurg., P j b. Lykewyse they [cauteres] be applyed to ye lachrymalles to consume the superflue flesshe.
1844. [see LACHRYMATORY B. 2].
b. Anat. A lachrymal bone.
1872. Mivart, Anat., 85. The lachrymals are small bones, one of which is placed at the anterior part of the inner wall of each orbit.
2. pl. Lachrymal performances; fits of weeping.
1753. Richardson, Grandison (1781), VI. xlv. 291. Something … that made her laugh in the midst of her lacrymals.
1789. Charlotte Smith, Ethelinde (1814), IV. 28. Do have done with these perpetual lachrymals.
3. = LACHRYMATORY sb. 1.
1769. R. Griffith, Gordian Knot, II. 16. Certain urns, stiled Lachrymals.
1839–40. W. Irving, Wolfert’s Roost (1855), 94. His rooms were decorated with … old vases, lachrymals, and sepulchral lamps.
1851. Mrs. Browning, Casa Guidi Wind., 31. I would but turn these lachrymals to use, Fill them with fresh oil.
