styptic

Etymology

From Latin stypticus, from Ancient Greek στυπτικός (stuptikós), from στύφειν (stúphein, “to contract”).

adj

1. Bringing about contraction of tissues; harsh, raw, austere.
   Boyles turns to look over his shoulder, squinting into the styptic sun, and then flags a hand over his head. 1982, TC Boyle, Water Music, Penguin, published 2006, page 328
2. (medicine, by extension) That stops bleeding.
   The growth on top was a scrubby plant, unknown anywhere else on Malta, which was believed to have styptic qualities – it could staunch bleeding when packed on top of a wound […]. 1973, Nicholas Monsarrat, The Kapillan of Malta
   But I waited while he dabbed at the cut with styptic powder. 1959, Daniel Keyes, Flowers for Algernon

noun

1. A substance used for styptic results.
   The powdered gum with resin is used as a styptic; and the mucilage has been recommended as an application to burns. 1876, Henry Beasley, The Book of Prescriptions
   Externally, it is applied as a styptic, and in solution, of various strengths, as an astringent. 1889, John Barclay Biddle, Materia Medica and Therapeutics: For Physicians and Students
   Knowledge of puffball's use as a styptic and for hemorrhoids reached Bass through the popular tradition. 1990, A. L. Tommie Bass et al., Herbal Medicine Past and Present