air bathn.
/ˈɛː bɑːθ/, /ˈɛː baθ/, U.S. /ˈɛr ˌbæθ/ 1. The free exposure of the body to the air for a period, esp. for health purposes. Cf. sunbath n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > health and disease > healing > medical treatment > treatment by fresh air, sunlight, etc. > [noun]
insolation1626
air bath1746
sea-bath1785
sun cure1853
air cure1856
climatotherapy1875
mountain cure1876
heliotherapy1890
climatotherapeutics1896
1746 D. Stephenson in Misc. Corr. Gentleman's Mag. 7 301 Such an artificial atmosphere, or air-bath,..being apply'd and made to operate upon the whole external body, will prove the only sovereign remedy for preserving health.
1791 J. Boswell Life Johnson anno 1777 II. 153 He..walked in his room naked, with the window open, which he called taking an air bath.
1824 S. T. Coleridge Coll. Lett. (1971) V. 395 I have contented myself with the Air-bath of the Cliff, Sands, and Pier.
1885 A. H. Buck Ref. Handbk. Med. Sci. I. 467 It is often desirable not to employ too much water, but to expose the body freely, giving an air bath.
1934 M. T. King Mothercraft xii. 212 Harden the skin by gentle oiling and very gradual exposure to air-baths, sky-shine, and later, mild sunshine.
1959 Encounter Oct. 48/2 Seven minutes air-bath in the shade; four minutes in the sun; then a shower.
1990 Vanity Fair (N.Y.) Nov. 136/3 She applied ginger compresses and took ‘air baths’ which seemed to consist of standing beside an open window with no clothes on.
2. Chemistry. A device or chamber for exposing substances to the air, often at a controlled temperature, esp. for the purpose of drying.
ΘΚΠ
the world > life > biology > laboratory analysis > apparatus > [noun] > other apparatus
compressorium1845
air bath1848
compressor1881
Berkefeld1891
incubator1896
catchwater1901
ultrafilter1908
fermenter1925
gradocol membrane1931
roller tube1933
Tiselius (electrophoresis) apparatus1939
sonicator1952
Sonifier1961
cytocentrifuge1966
lyophilizer1967
biochip1980
1848 Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 138 161 The experiment..is best made in a long combustion-tube, suspended by means of two corks in a large tube of porcelain, which forms an air-bath.
1906 H. J. H. Fenton Notes Qualitative Anal. (new ed.) 140 The substance must be dried in a vacuum desiccator, in a water-oven or air-bath according to circumstances.
1994 Science 7 Jan. 66/3 The dispersion temperature was kept constant with a thermostatted air bath.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2008; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1746