cal·o·mel (k l  -m l , -ml)n. A colorless, white or brown tasteless compound, Hg2Cl2, used as a purgative and insecticide. Also called mercurous chloride. [Probably from New Latin calomel  s : Greek kalos, beautiful + mels, black.] |
calomel [ˈkæləˌmɛl -məl]
n
(Chemistry / Elements & Compounds) a colourless tasteless powder consisting chiefly of mercurous chloride, used medicinally, esp as a cathartic. Formula: Hg2Cl2
[perhaps from New Latin calomelas (unattested), literally: beautiful black (perhaps so named because it was originally sublimed from a black mixture of mercury and mercuric chloride), from Greek kalos beautiful + melas black]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | calomel - a tasteless colorless powder used medicinally as a cathartic black lotion, blackwash - a mixture of calomel and limewater that is used on syphilitic sores atomic number 80, Hg, hydrargyrum, mercury, quicksilver - a heavy silvery toxic univalent and bivalent metallic element; the only metal that is liquid at ordinary temperatures chloride - any compound containing a chlorine atom |
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