Obs. [a. OF. ustion (13th c., = Sp. ustion, It. ustione, Pg. ustão), ad. L. ūstiōn-em, noun of action f. ūst-us, pa. pple. of ūrĕre to burn. Cf. ADUSTION, INUSTION.]
1. The action of burning, or fact of being burnt.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 10. Likewise Incision … kepeth the place of vstion, free and cleare from yll smelling and rancoring.
1617. Woodall, Surg. Mate (1639), 274. Vstion is a preparation of things … by burning them in a crucible, or in the fire.
1673. Phil. Trans., VII. 6132. All these to be further examined by … Arefaction, Assation, Ustion, Calcination.
1728. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The Ustion of Minerals, is a more imperfect kind of Calcination.
1778. Pryce, Min. Cornub., 241. It may be worth enquiry, whether … Ores … may not be advanced in value by a previous ustion.
1802. Trans. Soc. Arts, XX. 209. Another [cause of the fetid smell] … is ustion or burning the [fish-] oil.
2. The action of searing; cauterization.
1588. J. Read, trans. Arcæus’ Meth. curing Woundes, 60. That imperfection … cannot bee holpen without vstion or burning.
1638. A. Read, Chirurg., ii. 14. Wee ought not, but upon great necessitie, to have recourse to ustion.
1651. Biggs, New Disp., ¶ 256. They … have stoutly played the Vulcans, and have appointed also Arabick ustions … for the sciatica.
1684. trans. Bonet’s Merc. Compit., XIX. 712. The ustion of the Ioynts that was grown out of use, has been restored.
1737. Bracken, Farriery Impr. (1756), I. 319. Ustion or Burning was the Remedy most used.
b. A place or surface presenting the appearance of being seared or cauterized.
1607. Topsell, Four-f. Beasts, 255. The roote of the greater Siler … cureth those cold vstions in the flesh or belly, when the place looketh blacke or looseth sence.
3. fig. Concupiscence; libidinous desire. rare.
1559. [see URN v.1 1].
1624. Sanderson, Serm., I. 228. Marriage,… the sole allowed remedy against … burning lusts; by the apostle … commanded in case of ustion to all men.
