%autery%

n.; pl. Cauteries [ L. cauterium, Gr. &unr_;. 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 ]