from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Cautery \Cau"ter*y\, n.; pl. {Cauteries}. [L. cauterium, Gr. ?.
See {Cauter}.]
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.
[1913 Webster]
2. The iron of other agent in cauterizing.
[1913 Webster]
{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.
[1913 Webster]