Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Cautery
1.
(Med.)
A burning or searing, as of morbid flesh, with a hot iron, or by application of a caustic that will burn, corrode, or destroy animal tissue.
2.
The iron of other agent in cauterizing.
Actual cautery
, a substance or agent (as a hot iron) which cauterizes or sears by actual heat; or the burning so effected.
– Potential cautery
, a substance which cauterizes by chemical action; as, lunar caustic; also, the cauterizing produced by such substance.
Webster 1828 Edition
Cautery
CAUTERY
,Noun.