2. (Chem.) A metallic element mostly obtained by reduction
from cinnabar, one of its ores. It is a heavy, opaque,
glistening liquid (commonly called {quicksilver}), and is
used in barometers, thermometers, ect. Specific gravity
13.6. Symbol Hg (Hydrargyrum). Atomic weight 199.8.
Mercury has a molecule which consists of only one atom. It
was named by the alchemists after the god Mercury, and
designated by his symbol, [mercury].
Note: Mercury forms alloys, called amalgams, with many
metals, and is thus used in applying tin foil to the
backs of mirrors, and in extracting gold and silver
from their ores. It is poisonous, and is used in
medicine in the free state as in blue pill, and in its
compounds as calomel, corrosive sublimate, etc. It is
the only metal which is liquid at ordinary
temperatures, and it solidifies at about -39[deg]
Centigrade to a soft, malleable, ductile metal.
3. (Astron.) One of the planets of the solar system, being
the one nearest the sun, from which its mean distance is
about 36,000,000 miles. Its period is 88 days, and its
diameter 3,000 miles.
4. A carrier of tidings; a newsboy; a messenger; hence, also,
a newspaper. --Sir J. Stephen. ``The monthly Mercuries.''
--Macaulay.
5. Sprightly or mercurial quality; spirit; mutability;
fickleness. [Obs.]
He was so full of mercury that he could not fix long
in any friendship, or to any design. --Bp. Burnet.
6. (Bot.) A plant ({Mercurialis annua}), of the Spurge
family, the leaves of which are sometimes used for
spinach, in Europe.
Note: The name is also applied, in the United States, to
certain climbing plants, some of which are poisonous to
the skin, esp. to the {Rhus Toxicodendron}, or poison
ivy.
{Dog's mercury} (Bot.), {Mercurialis perennis}, a perennial
plant differing from {M. annua} by having the leaves
sessile.
{English mercury} (Bot.), a kind of goosefoot formerly used
as a pot herb; -- called {Good King Henry}.
{Horn mercury} (Min.), a mineral chloride of mercury, having
a semitranslucent, hornlike appearance.
2. That which taints or destroys moral purity or health; as,
the poison of evil example; the poison of sin.
{Poison ash}. (Bot.)
(a) A tree of the genus {Amyris} ({A. balsamifera}) found
in the West Indies, from the trunk of which a black
liquor distills, supposed to have poisonous qualities.
(b) The poison sumac ({Rhus venenata}). [U. S.]
{Poison dogwood} (Bot.), poison sumac.
{Poison fang} (Zo["o]l.), one of the superior maxillary teeth
of some species of serpents, which, besides having the
cavity for the pulp, is either perforated or grooved by a
longitudinal canal, at the lower end of which the duct of
the poison gland terminates. See Illust. under {Fang}.
{Poison gland} (Biol.), a gland, in animals or plants, which
secretes an acrid or venomous matter, that is conveyed
along an organ capable of inflicting a wound.
{Poison hemlock} (Bot.), a poisonous umbelliferous plant
({Conium maculatum}). See {Hemlock}.
{Poison ivy} (Bot.), a poisonous climbing plant ({Rhus
Toxicodendron}) of North America. It is common on stone
walls and on the trunks of trees, and has trifoliate,
rhombic-ovate, variously notched leaves. Many people are
poisoned by it, if they touch the leaves. See {Poison
sumac}. Called also {poison oak}, and {mercury}.
{Poison nut}. (Bot.)
(a) Nux vomica.
(b) The tree which yields this seed ({Strychnos
Nuxvomica}). It is found on the Malabar and Coromandel
coasts.
{Poison oak} (Bot.), the poison ivy; also, the more shrubby
{Rhus diversiloba} of California and Oregon.
{Poison sac}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Poison gland}, above. See
Illust. under {Fang}.
{Poison sumac} (Bot.), a poisonous shrub of the genus {Rhus}
({R. venenata}); -- also called {poison ash}, {poison
dogwood}, and {poison elder}. It has pinnate leaves on
graceful and slender common petioles, and usually grows in
swampy places. Both this plant and the poison ivy ({Rhus
Toxicodendron}) have clusters of smooth greenish white
berries, while the red-fruited species of this genus are
harmless. The tree ({Rhus vernicifera}) which yields the
celebrated Japan lacquer is almost identical with the
poison sumac, and is also very poisonous. The juice of the
poison sumac also forms a lacquer similar to that of
Japan.
Syn: Venom; virus; bane; pest; malignity.
Usage: {Poison}, {Venom}. Poison usually denotes something
received into the system by the mouth, breath, etc.
Venom is something discharged from animals and
received by means of a wound, as by the bite or sting
of serpents, scorpions, etc. Hence, venom specifically
implies some malignity of nature or purpose.