mercury arc

noun

Electricity.

1. a bluish-green electric arc that has passed through a mercury-vapor cathode.

mercury arc

noun

1. 1. an electric discharge through ionized mercury vapour, producing a brilliant bluish-green light containing ultraviolet radiation

   2. ( as modifier ) See also ignitron

      a mercury-arc rectifier

Word History and Origins

Origin of mercury arc¹

First recorded in 1915–20