scarification

[ skar-uh-fi-key-shuhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

The act or result of making scratches or superficial incisions in the skin to produce an immune response or administer certain injections:
Scarification is a common method of sensitizing the skin for contact with an allergen.
an act or instance of scratching, cutting, or burning a design or image into the skin, in order to create permanent decorative or symbolic scars; scarifying:
Because it’s riskier than tattooing and piercing, not all body mod shops offer scarification.
a design or image made by scars as the result of scratching, cutting, or burning it into the skin:
A king was required to have the traditional facial scarification particular to his clan.

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Word History and Origins

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English scarificacioun, from Old French scarificacion and Late Latin scarīficātiōn- (stem of scarīficātiō ); scarify, -ation

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