Soft fibrous material made by scraping and shredding linen or cotton cloth, historically used as dressing for wounds and surgical bandages.
From French charpie, possibly derived from Old French charper (to pluck or card), related to the preparation of textile fibers. The term became common in medical English from the 18th century onward as surgical practice developed.
Before modern sterile gauze, charpie was the gold standard for wound care—doctors would stuff it into wounds and it would absorb blood and infection while staying soft enough not to damage healing tissue. It's a reminder that textile technology and medicine have always been intertwined!
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