effleurage

English edit

Etymology edit

Borrowed from French effleurage, from effleurer (“to stroke lightly”).

Noun edit

effleurage (countable and uncountable, plural effleurages)

(massage) A form of massage involving smooth strokes of the skin with one's hands.
- 2003, Stephanie Henderson, Basic Hairdressing: A Coursebook for Level 2, →ISBN, page 97:
  When shampoo is spread on to the hair it is called an effleurage massage movement.
- 2004, Jean-Pierre Hourdebaigt, Canine Massage: A Complete Reference Manual:
  Starting at the point of shoulder, use muscle squeezings, picking-ups, kneadings and gentle frictions, interspersed with effleurages, over the triceps muscle as well as the fleshy part of the flexor and extensor muscle groups.

Related terms edit

efflower

Verb edit

effleurage (third-person singular simple present effleurages, present participle effleuraging, simple past and past participle effleuraged)