litharge

[ lith-ahrj, li-thahrj ]

noun

1. a yellowish or reddish, odorless, heavy, earthy, water-insoluble, poisonous solid, PbO, used chiefly in the manufacture of storage batteries, pottery, lead glass, paints, enamels, and inks.

litharge

/ ˈlɪθɑːdʒ /

noun

1. another name for lead monoxide

Word History and Origins

Origin of litharge¹

1350–1400; earlier litarge, litharge, Middle English litarge < Middle French, apocopated variant of litargire < Latin lithargyrus < Greek lithárgyros spume of silver, equivalent to lith- lith- + árgyros silver

Word History and Origins

Origin of litharge¹

C14: via Old French from Latin lithargyrus, from Greek, from lithos stone + arguros silver

Example Sentences

To the oil so charged the author adds litharge and borate of lead, and paints a thin coat of this mixture over the surface of the glass, which is then carried to a proper furnace.

From Project Gutenberg

At a red heat the litharge and borate of lead are fused, and cause the adhesion of the platinum to the softened glass.

From Project Gutenberg

Directs only a Mixture of two Parts Water, and one Part of Vinegar of Litharge.

From Project Gutenberg

Freshly precipitated hydrated oxide of lead, or moist litharge, is added in excess, and the liquid allowed to boil gently for a few minutes, then tightly corked and left to cool, after which the clear liquid is decanted from the sediment into a glass vessel that can be tightly corked.

From Project Gutenberg

The secondary battery simply consists of plates or "grids," as they are called, one filled with litharge, and the other with red lead; the one becomes pure lead, the other becomes peroxide of lead; the plates are combined in this form, and then placed in a glass cell, and upstairs there are 52 of these E.P.S. cells, which have been charged all day long by the gas-engine of which I spoke, and which now contain a store of electricity that I shall make considerable use of to-night before I finish.

From Project Gutenberg