Forms: 4–5 arsnek, arsenyk, arcenyk, arsynek, 6 arsenik, arsnecke, 6–8 arsenick(e, 7 arsnic, -nike, 7–8 arsnick, 7– arsenic; also in Lat. form. [a. OF. arsenic (14th c. in Littré), ad. L. arsenicum (arrenicum), a. Gr. ἀρσενικόν (ἀρρενικόν) ‘yellow orpiment,’ subst. use of ἀρσενικός adj. ‘masculine, male.’]
1. Name of one of the chemical elements, and of some of its compounds, which are violent poisons.
† a. orig. A bright yellow mineral (hence also distinguished as Yellow Arsenic), found native, and as a product of art, properly called ORPIMENT (auri pigmentum of the Romans, ἀρσενικόν of the Greeks), which is chemically the trisulphide of arsenic (As2S3), and is used as a pigment under the name of King’s Yellow.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Chan. Yeom. Prol. & T., 245. Arsnek [v.r. arsenyk(e, arcenyk, arsynek], sal armoniak, and brimstoon.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., XIX. xxx. (1495), 878. Arsenicum hyghte Auripigmentum for the colour of golde and is gaderyd in Pontus.
1567. Maplet, Gr. Forest, 10. The stone Arsenick … which also they call the golden earth.
1601. Holland, Pliny, II. 521. As for Arsenicke … that which is best of this kind, resembleth burnished gold in colour.
1634. R. H., Salerne Regim., 158. Auripigmentum which some Arsenicke call.
† b. Formerly, sometimes extended to the disulphide (As2S2), a native mineral and product of art, commonly known as REALGAR, or Ruby Sulphur, formerly also as Red Orpiment, and Red Arsenic (the σανδαράκη, sandaraca of the Greeks and Romans).
1591. Percivall, Sp. Dict., Rejalgar, poison, arsenicke, or ratsebane.
1599. Thynne, Animadv., 36. This Resalgar is that whiche by some is called Ratisbane, a kynde of poysone named Arsenicke.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., There are divers kinds of Arsenic. Orpiment is called native or yellow arsenic … Red arsenick is a preparation of the white or crystalline Arsenic.
c. in pop. use: A white mineral substance, native (as ARSENOLITE) and manufactured, originally distinguished as White Arsenic, which is chemically the trioxide of arsenic (As2O3). Flowers of arsenic: the same substance sublimed.
1605. Timme, Quersit., I. vii. 26. White sublimate and arsnic … foster and hide most burning and deadly fire.
1672. Davenant, Wits (1673), 193. Arsnick my Girl to strengthen thy Aunts Broth.
1675. News fr. Ring-Cross, 3. Another time putting white Arsenick into her broth.
1727–51. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Arsenic is made by sublimation from cobalt.
1788–9. Howard, Encycl., s.v., White arsenic, or arsenic strictly so called … is a most violent poison to all animals.
1813. Sir H. Davy, Agric. Chem., ii. (1814), 49. Arsenic may be procured by heating the powder of common white arsenic of the shops strongly in a Florence flask with oil.
1863. Watts, Dict. Chem., I. 374. The Tyrolese peasants are said to swallow arsenic in considerable quantities.
1877. Roscoe, etc., Chem. (1881), I. 516. White arsenic or the trioxide is first distinctly spoken of by Geber, who states that he obtained it by roasting the sulphide of arsenic.
d. Chem. and Min. The element: a very brittle semi-metallic substance, of steel-grey lustrous color, crystallizing in rhombohedrons, and volatilizing without fusion, with an odor of garlic. It forms a link between the metals, and non-metallic bodies: see ANTIMONY. Symbol As.
Native Arsenic: the above element occurring as a mineral. Antimonial A.: a native alloy of arsenic with antimony.
1812. Sir H. Davy, Chem. Philos., 453. A metal sublimes, and condenses in the upper part of the vessel, which is arsenic.
1837–68. Dana, Min., 18. Native arsenic commonly occurs in veins in crystalline rocks and the older schists.
1863. Watts, Dict. Chem., I. 360. Native arsenic forms botryoidal, kidney-shaped, spherical and conchoidal masses.
1869. Roscoe, Elem. Chem., 163. Arsenic closely resembles phosphorus in its chemical properties.
1879. Academy, 27 Dec., 467. Arsenic is definitely regarded as a non-metal.
e. fig. Poison.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, 69. Neither in Golden Platters doth he lick For sweet ambrosia deadly arsenick.
c. 1630. Drumm. of Hawth., Wks., 1711, 33. Since hell disgorg’d her baneful arsenick.
2. attrib. = Of arsenic, arsenical; esp. in Chem. in systematic names of compounds, as Arsenic trihydride = trihydride of arsenic, pentoxide, disulphide. Arsenic bloom, arsenic trioxide in native crystals, arising from the oxidation of elementary arsenic. Arsenic glass, the same in a vitreous mass obtained from the powder by re-sublimation.
1656. Evelyn, Mem. (1857), I. 333. Deprived of their sulphur and arsenic malignity.
1799. G. Smith, Laboratory, I. 218. Add eight or ten ounces of arsenic glass.
1860. Roscoe (title), On the alleged practice of Arsenic eating in Styria. Ibid. (1881), Chem., I. 528. The reasons which the arsenic-eaters give for the practice. Ibid. An antidote against arsenic poisoning.
