2 entries under this word

Irritant

Ir'ri-tant, a.

adjective

a. 1. [Lat. irritans, irritantis, p. pr. of irritare. See IRRITATE.] Irritating.

Sense 2. [From Lat. irritus, from in, not, and ratus, established.] Rendering null and void.

The states elected Harry, Duke of Anjou, for their king, with this clause irritant; that, if he did violate any part of his oath, the people should owe him no allegiance. Hayward.

Ir'ri-tant, n.

noun

n. [Lat. irritans, Fr. irritant, It. & Sp. irritante. See IRRITATE.]

That which irritates; that which causes pain, heat, or tension, either mechanically, as puncture or scarification; chemically, as alkalies and acids; or specifically, as cantharides. Dunglison.
(Toxicology.) A poison that produces inflammation.

Pure irritant (Toxicology), a poison that produces inflammation without any corrosive action upon the tissues.