prussic

[pruhs-ik]

adjective Chemistry.

of or derived from prussic acid.

Origin of prussic

First recorded in 1780–90; see origin at prussic acid

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for prussic

Contemporary Examples of prussic

Exposed to oxygen, the pellets gave off prussic acid, blocking the exchange of oxygen in the blood.
My Visit To Hell
Christopher Buckley
January 30, 2009

Historical Examples of prussic

You believe in the action of a drug—say, prussic acid—you believe it will kill?
The Tyranny of the Dark
Hamlin Garland
She drank the little phial of prussic acid and there she lay.
The Good Soldier
Ford Madox Ford
I'm not very exacting, but the way you look at men is just prussic acid to me.
Aladdin of London
Sir Max Pemberton
Page 382, reference to Prussic Acid: the Dictionary does not have this article.
A Dictionary of Arts, Manufactures and Mines
Andrew Ure
What a fool he had been not to buy strychnine, prussic acid, or laudanum!
Cradock Nowell, Vol. 3 (of 3)
Richard Doddridge Blackmore