ammoniac

American  

[uh-moh-nee-ak] / əˈmoʊ niˌæk /

noun

1. Also ammoniacum gum ammoniac.

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adjective

1. ammoniacal.

ammoniac ¹ British  

/ əˈməʊnɪˌæk /

adjective

1. a variant of ammoniacal

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ammoniac ² British  

/ əˈməʊnɪˌæk /

noun

1. Also called: gum ammoniac.  a strong-smelling gum resin obtained from the stems of the N Asian umbelliferous plant Dorema ammoniacum and formerly used as an expectorant, stimulant, perfume, and in porcelain cement

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Etymology

Origin of ammoniac

1375–1425; late Middle English armoniac, ammoniak < Latin ammōniacum < Greek ammōniakón (neuter of ammōniakós of Ammon; -i-, -ac ), applied to a salt and a gum resin prepared near the Shrine of Ammon in Libya

Example Sentences

The noted Roman naturalist and historian was indeed an early expert in fermentation, yet he also wrote about “sal ammoniac” — yes, smelling salts — in his encyclopedic work “Natural History,” published in 79 A.D.

From Los Angeles Times

Ah, yes, certainly she would go at once—her case was not locked—and she would take with her some sal ammoniac.

From Literature

Tiring of field and flock, in 1768 he moved to Edinburgh, where he founded a successful business producing sal ammoniac from coal soot, and busied himself with various scientific pursuits.

From Literature

This is pretty much what Arsenal’s back three seem like: confused, fumbling, spreading across the chest like a hot, sweet flush of ammoniac regret.

From The Guardian

While Galileo captured stunning surface images of swirling ammoniac storms, Juno’s mission is to peek beneath the gaseous veil to see inside Jupiter.

From The New Yorker