cupping

Meanings

1. The operation of drawing blood to or from the surface of the person by forming a partial vacuum over the spot.
2. A similar operation for drawing pus from an abscess.
3. Fire cupping, a traditional therapeutic treatment called in which heated cupping glasses are applied to the skin, supposedly to draw blood towards the surface.
4. The taking of a small amount of a beverage such as tea or coffee into the mouth in order to taste it; a session where this is done.
5. The act of forming something into a cup shape.

1. present participle and gerund of cup

Etymology

From Middle English cupping, equivalent to cup + -ing.