chloral

American  

[klawr-uhl] / ˈklɔr əl /

noun

1. Also called trichloroacetaldehyde.  Also called trichloroacetic acid aldehyde.  a colorless, oily liquid, C 2 Cl 3 HO, having a pungent odor, usually derived by the chlorination of ethyl alcohol or of acetaldehyde and combining with water to form chloral hydrate.

2. Also called chloral hydrate.  Pharmacology. a white, crystalline solid, C 2 H 3 Cl 3 O 2 , formed by combining liquid chloral with water: used as a hypnotic.

---

chloral British  

/ ˈklɔːrəl /

noun

1. a colourless oily liquid with a pungent odour, made from chlorine and acetaldehyde and used in preparing chloral hydrate and DDT; trichloroacetaldehyde

2. short for chloral hydrate

---

Etymology

Origin of chloral

First recorded in 1825–35; chlor- ² + -al ³

Example Sentences

And the hospital had prescribed the maximum dose of chloral hydrate for the other child, allowing additional doses if needed.

From Science Magazine • Jan. 18, 2023

Luminal, developed in Germany during the last ten years, belongs to the same chemical group of drugs as chloral and veronal.

From Time Magazine Archive

On June 29th the pulse was 96, temperature 100.5°; occasional convulsive attacks occurred, which were readily controlled by enemata of hydrate of chloral.

From A System of Practical Medicine by American Authors, Vol. I Volume 1: Pathology and General Diseases by Various

The word chloral is derived from the first syllables of chlorine and alcohol, the names of the substances employed for its preparation.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 3 "Chitral" to "Cincinnati" by Various

People did not die now-a-days, either of broken hearts or of chloral, when their lovers deserted them.

From Brooke's Daughter A Novel by Sergeant, Adeline