Emily Dickinson Lexicon

CAU'TER-Y, n. [Gr. καυτεριον; L. cauterium. See Cauterize.]

A burning or searing, as of morbid flesh, by a hot iron or by caustic medicines that burn, corrode or destroy any solid part of an animal body. The burning by a hot iron is called actual cautery; that by caustic medicines, potential cautery.