lewisite

[ loo-uh-sahyt ]

noun

1. a pale yellow, odorless compound, C 2 H 2 AsCl 3 , used as a blister gas in World War I.

lewisite

/ ˈluːɪˌsaɪt /

noun

1. a colourless oily poisonous liquid with an odour resembling that of geraniums, having a powerful vesicant action and used as a war gas; 1-chloro-2-dichloroarsinoethene. Formula: ClCH:CHAsCl 2

Word History and Origins

Origin of lewisite¹

1920–25; named after Winford Lee Lewis (1878–1943), American chemist who developed it; -ite ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of lewisite¹

C20: named after W. L. Lewis (1878–1943), US chemist

Example Sentences

It contains a specimen of the deadliest poison ever known, 'Lewisite,' the product of an American scientist.

From Project Gutenberg

That fellow would get us with his Lewisite gas before we could discover and destroy him.

From Project Gutenberg