cacodyl

[ kak-uh-dil ]
/ ˈkæk ə dɪl /

adjective

containing the cacodyl group.

noun

an oily, slightly water-soluble, poisonous liquid compound composed of two cacodyl groups, (CH3)2As−As(CH3)2, that has a vile, garliclike odor and that undergoes spontaneous combustion in dry air.

Origin of cacodyl

1840–50; < Greek kakṓd(ēs) ill-smelling ( kak(o)- caco- + -ōd- smell + -ēs adj. suffix) + -yl

Words nearby cacodyl

cackle, cackleberry, cacky, caco-, cacodemon, cacodyl, cacodyl group, cacodylate, cacodylic, cacodylic acid, cacoepy

Example sentences from the Web for cacodyl

British Dictionary definitions for cacodyl

cacodyl
/ (ˈkækədaɪl) /

noun

an oily poisonous liquid with a strong garlic smell; tetramethyldiarsine. Formula: [(CH 3) 2 As] 2

Derived forms of cacodyl

cacodylic (ˌkækəˈdɪlɪk), adjective

Word Origin for cacodyl

C19: from Greek kakōdēs evil-smelling (from kakos caco- + ozein to smell) + -yl