IRRITANT Ir"ri*tant, a. Etym: [L. irritans, -antis, p. pr. of irritare: cf. F. irritant. See Irritate to excite.]
Defn: Irritating; producing irritation or inflammation.
IRRITANT
Ir"ri*tant, n. Etym: [Cf. F. irritant.]
1. That which irritates or excites.
2. (Physiol. & Med.)
Defn: Any agent by which irritation is produced; as, a chemical irritant; a mechanical or electrical irritant.
3. (Toxicology)
Defn: A poison that produces inflammation. Counter irritant. See
under Counter.
— Pure irritant (Toxicology), a poison that produces inflammation
without any corrosive action upon the tissues.
IRRITATE
Ir"ri*tate, v. t. Etym: [See 1 st Irritant.]
Defn: To render null and void. [R.] Abp. Bramhall.