noun
liniment
LIN-uh-munt/ˈlɪnəmənt/
A medicinal liquid rubbed on the skin to relieve pain.
He rubs liniment onto his sore knee.
Etymology
The idea of smearing underlies the earlier meaning “soft ointment.” Liniment names a medicinal liquid by its external application: it is rubbed onto the skin to ease pain.
In context
say, to bed. But First Cousin Stickles’ neuralgic back must be rubbed with Redfern’s Liniment.
More examples
- The liniment has a sharp medicinal smell.
- She checks the instructions on the bottle of liniment.
- The old cabinet contains several liniments for aches and pains.
Forms
liniment · liniments