Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. An oily, volatile liquid, (ClCH2CH2)2S, that is corrosive to the skin and mucous membranes and causes severe, sometimes fatal respiratory damage. It was introduced in World War I as a chemical warfare agent.
Wiktionary
- n. A vesicant gas, bis (2-chloroethyl) sulfide, (ClC2H4)2S, once used in chemical warfare; one of the sulfur mustard class of compounds.
WordNet 3.0
- n. a toxic war gas with sulfide based compounds that raises blisters and attacks the eyes and lungs; there is no known antidote
Etymologies
- From its smell.
Examples
“Unfortunately, as can be expected from a chemical cleansing process originally designed during World War I as a treatment for mustard gas exposure, chelation comes with a significant amount of risk.”
“Murdock, Deroy, on waterboarding as source of pride mushroom cloud, smoking gun as mustard gas”
Simon & Schuster: Mission Accomplished! Or How We Won the War in Iraq
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘mustard gas’.
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Spice or Weapon?
Is it something you'd add to spaghetti sauce, or is it something you'd use to intimidate your enemies?
mace, arrowroot, fenugreek fire, throwing star anise, pepper spray, white pepper spray, clove, war horseradish, o-ray-gun-o, mustard gas, pea shooter, pepperwood and 11 more...
PossibleUnderscore Makes you vomit and breathing becomes very difficult. If you survive, damage to stomach and lungs lasts for ages after. Aug 18, 2009