cacodyl

American  

[kak-uh-dil] / ˈkæk ə dɪl /

adjective

1. containing the cacodyl group.

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noun

1. an oily, slightly water-soluble, poisonous liquid compound composed of two cacodyl groups, (CH3 ) 2 As−As(CH3 ) 2 , that has a vile, garliclike odor and that undergoes spontaneous combustion in dry air.

cacodyl British  

/ ˈkækədaɪl /

noun

1. an oily poisonous liquid with a strong garlic smell; tetramethyldiarsine. Formula: [(CH 3 ) 2 As] 2

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Other Word Forms

• cacodylic
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of cacodyl

1840–50; < Greek kakṓd ( ēs ) ill-smelling ( kak ( o )- caco- + -ōd- smell + -ēs adj. suffix) + -yl

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cacodyl

As he crossed the room some evil chance made him think of the gossip outside and of his allusion to the abstruse substance known as cacodyl.

From The Firm of Girdlestone by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The formula for cyanide of cacodyl is 'Me-2CY.'

From Average Jones by Samuel Hopkins Adams

"What do you know about cacodyl?" was his impressive question.

From The Firm of Girdlestone by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Without a moment's hesitation or thought he expressed his conviction that the compound was cacodyl.

From The Firm of Girdlestone by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Simultaneously with his work on cacodyl, he was studying the composition of the gases given off from blast furnaces.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 4 "Bulgaria" to "Calgary" by Various

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