Perkinism

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noun

A pseudoscientific treatment in which two pointed metal rods ("tractors") were waved over the body, supposed to cure inflammation, rheumatism, etc. by drawing off an electrical fluid.

Similar
tractorationtractorism
Scrabble 17
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Meanings

nounPerkinism (uncountable)
  1. archaicuncountablemedicineA pseudoscientific treatment in which two pointed metal rods ("tractors") were waved over the body, supposed to cure inflammation, rheumatism, etc. by drawing off an electrical fluid.

    Synonyms: tractoration, tractorism

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA pseudoscientific treatment in which two pointed metal rods ("tractors") were waved over the body, supposed to cure inflammation, rheumatism, etc. by drawing off an electrical fluid.

Similar
tractorationtractorism

Origin

From Perkins + -ism, after inventor Elisha Perkins (1741–1799).

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Perkinism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Perkinism

MLA

“Perkinism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Perkinism. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Perkinism,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Perkinism.

Source: Perkinism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.