Anilinctus

/ˌænɪˈlɪŋktəs/ noun

Definition

A licking or small licks; a dose of medicine administered orally or by licking.

Etymology

From Latin 'anilincta' (things to be licked), derived from 'ad-' (to) + 'lingere' (to lick). This is a medical or pharmaceutical term used in classical and medieval medicine.

Kelly Says

Before modern medicine bottles, doctors prescribed medicines as 'anilinctus'—literally lickable substances—which shows how Latin terminology preserved different methods of taking medicine, from drinking to licking to inhaling vapors.

Related Words

Explore More Words

Get the Word Orb API

Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.