prussic

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   dated in chemistry: relating to hydrogen cyanide or hydrocyanic acid, especially in the term prussic acid

   The physician suspected poisoning by prussic acid, the historical name for hydrogen cyanide.

2. 2
   adj

   historical: derived from or associated with Prussian blue and its compounds

   Early chemists isolated several prussic compounds while studying Prussian blue pigment.

Appears in

From Latin Prussia or French prussique, 'Prussian,' + -ic. The name arose because hydrogen cyanide was first obtained from Prussian blue pigment; prussic acid is now called hydrocyanic acid or hydrogen cyanide.

Topics

External links

• Google Images
• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary