= bloodletting, n. 1.

The action or process of extracting blood (from a person, animal, vein, or part of the body) for (supposed) therapeutic purposes; spec. = phlebotomy…

The action of allowing movement or passage; the action of permitting or allowing to happen; an instance of this.

A diminution; spec. a reduction of the quantity of blood in the body, as by bloodletting.

†(a) the action of bloodletting, phlebotomy (obsolete); (b) blood drawn from or present in a vein (now usually with distinguishing word naming…

Drawing or ‘letting’ of blood. Also attributive, as bleeding-bowl (see quot. 1916), bleeding-knife.

The action or practice of performing phlebotomy; an instance of this; = bleeding, n. 2. In early use also: bleeding (bleeding, n. 1a); the act of…

The action or process of causing (supposed) noxious vapours to escape from the blood, esp. by opening a vein; the action of opening a vein to…