prussic acid

noun Chemistry.

hydrocyanic acid.

Origin of prussic acid

1780–90; translation of French acide prussique (equivalent to Prusse Prussia + -ique -ic); so called because it was first obtained by heating Prussian blue with sulfuric acid

Words nearby prussic acid

prussian blue, prussianism, prussianize, prussiate, prussic, prussic acid, prusso-, prusso-danish war, prut, pruta, prutah

Example sentences from the Web for prussic acid

  • The prussic-acid taste of a twig sets the cherry tribe apart.

    Trees Worth Knowing |Julia Ellen Rogers

  • From the somewhat extensive distribution of the acid, or rather of prussic-acid producing substances in the vegetable kingdom.

    Poisons: Their Effects and Detection |Alexander Wynter Blyth

British Dictionary definitions for prussic acid

prussic acid
/ (ˈprʌsɪk) /

noun

the weakly acidic extremely poisonous aqueous solution of hydrogen cyanide

Word Origin for prussic acid

C18: from French acide prussique Prussian acid, so called because obtained from Prussian blue

Medical definitions for prussic acid

prussic acid
[ prŭs′ĭk ]

n.

hydrocyanic acid

Scientific definitions for prussic acid

prussic acid
[ prŭs′ĭk ]

See hydrocyanic acid.