"Producing redness of the skin (especially as a method of counterirritation); of or relating to this property", Mid 17th cent.; earliest use found in Robert Lovell (?1630–1690), naturalist. From classical Latin rubefacient-, rubefaciēns, present participle of rubefacere; compare -facient. With the use as adjective compare earlier rubificative, rubifying. With the use as noun compare earlier rubificative, rubrificative.[rubefacient etymology, rubefacient origin, 英语词源]