Lexic.us

Definition of Ratsbane

1. Noun. A white powdered poisonous trioxide of arsenic; used in manufacturing glass and as a pesticide (rat poison) and weed killer.

Definition of Ratsbane

1. n. Rat poison; white arsenic.

Definition of Ratsbane

1. Noun. Rat poison; white arsenic. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Ratsbane

1. rat poison [n -S]

Medical Definition of Ratsbane

1. 1. One of the elements, a solid substance resembling a metal in its physical properties, but in its chemical relations ranking with the nonmetals. It is of a steel-gray colour and brilliant luster, though usually dull from tarnish. It is very brittle, and sublimes at 356 deg Fahrenheit. It is sometimes found native, but usually combined with silver, cobalt, nickel, iron, antimony, or sulphur. Orpiment and realgar are two of its sulphur compounds, the first of which is the true arsenticum of the ancients. The element and its compounds are active poisons. Specific gravity from 5.7 to 5.9. Atomic weight. Symbol As. 2. Arsenious oxide or arsenious anhydride; called also arsenious acid, white arsenic, and ratsbane. Pertaining to, or derived from, arsenic; said of those compounds of arsenic in which this element has its highest equivalence; as, arsenic acid. Origin: L. Arsenicum, Gr, yellow orpiment, perh. Fr. Or better Attic masculine, male, on account of its strength, or fr. Per. Zernikh: cf. F. Arsenic. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Ratsbane

Literary usage of Ratsbane

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Chronicles of the Scotch-Irish Settlement in Virginia: Extracted from the by Lyman Chalkley, Mary Smith Lockwood (1912)
"James killed Robertson's fowls and hogs with ratsbane in 1767. James Meek's deposition, November 1, 1768. He was at James Anderson's house on Long Meadow. ..."

2. The Literary World by Samuel R. Crocker, Edward Abbott, Nicholas Paine Gilman, Madeline Vaughan Abbott Bushnell, Bliss Carman, Herbert Copeland (1887)
"He resolves on suicide, and takes ratsbane. — XV. He falls in the orchard, cutting his head on the stones ; he is found, and carried into the house. — XVI. ..."

3. A Complete Treatise on the Electro-deposition of Metals by Georg Langbein (1898)
"Arsenious acid (white arsenic, arsenic, ratsbane).—It generally occurs in the shape of a white powder and sometimes in vitreous-like lumps, ..."

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