red lead

American  

[led] / lɛd /

noun

1. an orange to red, heavy, earthy, water-insoluble, poisonous powder, Pb 3 O 4 , obtained by heating litharge in the presence of air: used chiefly as a paint pigment, in the manufacture of glass and glazes, and in storage batteries.

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red lead British  

/ lɛd /

noun

1. Also called: minium.  a bright-red poisonous insoluble oxide of lead usually obtained as a powder by heating litharge in air. It is used as a pigment in paints. Formula: Pb 3 O 4

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Etymology

Origin of red lead

late Middle English word dating back to 1400–50

Example Sentences

The dogs - one on a red lead and one on a blue - were held by two pages in red tailcoats.

From BBC

One on a red lead and one on a blue, they were escorted by two pages in red tailcoats as the coffin of their beloved former owner came past.

From BBC

The paintings contain haematite and goethite from Keos, in the Aegean Sea, and red lead from Rio Tinto, in southern Spain.

From Economist

The Ebers Papyrus offers a remedy for ‘Ear-That-Hears-Badly’: injecting olive oil, red lead, ant eggs, bat wings and goat urine into the ears.

From Time

The sulfur, you see, becomes negatively charged during handling, while the red lead becomes positively charged.

From Scientific American