calomel

[ kal-uh-mel, -muhl ]

nounPharmacology.
  1. a white, tasteless powder, Hg2Cl2, used chiefly as a purgative and fungicide.

Origin of calomel

1
1670–80; <New Latin calomelas coined from Greek kaló(s) fair + mélas black; allegedly so called because its original preparation involved turning black powder into white

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British Dictionary definitions for calomel

calomel

/ (ˈkæləˌmɛl, -məl) /


noun
  1. a colourless tasteless powder consisting chiefly of mercurous chloride, used medicinally, esp as a cathartic. Formula: Hg 2 Cl 2

Origin of calomel

1
C17: 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

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