realgar

American  

[ree-al-ger, -gahr] / riˈæl gər, -gɑr /

noun

1. arsenic disulfide, As 2 S 2 , found in nature as an orange-red mineral and also produced artificially: used in pyrotechnics.

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realgar British  

/ rɪˈælɡə /

noun

1. a rare orange-red soft mineral consisting of arsenic sulphide in monoclinic crystalline form. It occurs in Utah and Romania and as a deposit from hot springs. It is an important ore of arsenic and is also used as a pigment. Formula: AsS

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Etymology

Origin of realgar

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin realger ≪ Arabic rahj al-ghār powder of the mine or cave

Example Sentences

I stuck my head inside a cabinet to get a close look at the rocks of the arsenic sulfides realgar and orpiment, blazes of flame orange locked within the crystals.

From The New Yorker • Aug. 27, 2018

These latter are first rolled in mud moistened with vinegar, to prevent the fire from consuming too much of the copper with the bitumen, or sulphur, or orpiment, or realgar.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius

Note: Realgar: The Chinese believe that realgar is a mithridate and tonic.

From The Chinese Fairy Book by Wilhelm, Richard

Then his wife untied him, carried him to bed, and gave him wine mingled with realgar to drink.

From The Chinese Fairy Book by Wilhelm, Richard

Both realgar and orpiment were important for pigments, medicinal purposes, and poisons among the Ancients.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius