water gas

noun

1. a toxic gaseous mixture consisting chiefly of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, prepared from steam and incandescent coke: used as an illuminant, fuel, and in organic synthesis.

water gas

noun

1. a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced by passing steam over hot carbon, used as a fuel and raw material See also producer gas

Other Word Forms

• water-gas adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of water gas¹

First recorded in 1850–55