calomel

[ kal-uh-mel, -muh l ]
/ ˈkæl əˌmɛl, -məl /

noun Pharmacology.

a white, tasteless powder, Hg2Cl2, used chiefly as a purgative and fungicide.
Also called mercurous chloride.

Origin of calomel

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

Example sentences from the Web for calomel

British Dictionary definitions for calomel

calomel
/ (ˈkæləˌmɛl, -məl) /

noun

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

Word Origin for calomel

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

Medical definitions for calomel

calomel
[ kălə-mĕl′, -məl ]

n.

A colorless, white or brown tasteless compound used as a purgative and an insecticide. mercurous chloride