[f. QUICK a. + LIME, after L. calx viva (Vitruvius), F. chaux vive, etc.] Lime that has been burned and not yet slaked with water; calcium oxide, CaO.
c. 1400. Rom. Rose, 4179. The mortere … Of quykke lyme persant and egre.
1489. Caxton, Faytes of A., II. xxxix. 163. To be cast to the shyp of the enemies pottes full of quyk lyme made in to pouldre.
a. 1533. Ld. Berners, Huon, cxii. 389. They cast vpon them hote lede and boylynge oyle and quycke Lyme.
1590. Webbe, Trav. (Arb.), 31. Constrained to drinke salte water and quicklime.
1685. Boyle, Salubr. Air, 61. Such a thick smoke as good quicklime is wont to doe, whilst men slake it with water.
1703. Moxon, Mech. Exerc., 242. Quick Lime … consumes dead Bodies put therein.
1813. Sir H. Davy, Agric. Chem., vii. (1814), 317. Quicklime in its pure state … is injurious to plants.
1873. B. Stewart, Conserv. Force, iii. 58. Limestone … is decomposed when subjected to the heat of a lime-kiln, carbonic acid being given off, while quick-lime remains behind.
attrib. 1684. Boyle, Porousn. Anim. & Solid Bod., vi. 55. Dip a very large Sponge in good Quick-lime-water.
1861. Flor. Nightingale, Nursing, ii. 23. Washing the walls and ceilings with quick-lime wash.
