Calomel
/ˈkæl.ə.mɛl/noun
A white or pale yellow mercurous chloride used historically in medicine and as a pigment.
Did you know?The name calomel comes from Greek roots for “beautiful” and “black,” a puzzling alchemical name likely inspired by the way the substance darkens when heated or mixed in old chemical tests.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
kalós
“beautiful, fair”
Ancient Greek
Greek
mélas
“black, dark”
Early Modern Latin
Latin
calomelas
“a chemical name built from Greek roots, used for mercurous chloride”
17th Century
French
calomel
“the alchemical/medical substance mercurous chloride”
Modern English
English
calomel
“mercurous chloride, formerly used in medicine”
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