realgar

noun

re·​al·​gar rē-ˈal-ˌgär How to pronounce realgar (audio)
-gər
: an orange-red mineral consisting of arsenic sulfide and having a resinous luster

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin, from Catalan, from Arabic rahj al-ghār powder of the mine

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of realgar was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near realgar

Cite this Entry

“Realgar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/realgar. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on realgar

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!