poison gas

American  

noun

1. any of various toxic gases, especially those used in chemical warfare to kill or incapacitate on inhalation or contact, as phosgene, chlorine, etc.

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poison gas British  

noun

1. a gaseous substance, such as chlorine, phosgene, or lewisite, used in warfare to kill or harm

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Etymology

Origin of poison gas

First recorded in 1910–15

Example Sentences

Another unfounded allegation, that Thailand had dropped poison gas, was accompanied by an image of a water bomber dropping pink fire retardant.

From BBC

In Ankara, Siegfried became co-director of a gas mask factory, a joint Turkish-German enterprise next door to a poison gas laboratory.

From Los Angeles Times

Auschwitz and the Holocaust didn't begin with poison gas.

From BBC

Before we walk into a room, we like to be fairly certain of what we’ll find — walls, floor, furniture, not hot coals or clouds of poison gas.

From Los Angeles Times

In both sectors, the attacks were preceded by the discharge of chlorine gas—the first time poison gas had been used by the Allies.

From Literature

Related Words

• mustard gas