quicksilver

[ kwik-sil-ver ]
/ ˈkwɪkˌsɪl vər /

noun

the metallic element mercury.

verb (used with object)

to amalgamate (metal) with mercury.

Origin of quicksilver

before 1000; Middle English qwyksilver, Old English cwicseolfor (translation Latin argentum vīvum) literally, living silver

OTHER WORDS FROM quicksilver

quick·sil·ver·y, adjective

Words nearby quicksilver

Example sentences from the Web for quicksilver

British Dictionary definitions for quicksilver

quicksilver
/ (ˈkwɪkˌsɪlvə) /

noun

another name for mercury (def. 1)

adjective

rapid or unpredictable in movement or change a quicksilver temper

Word Origin for quicksilver

Old English, from cwicu alive (see quick) + seolfer silver