a colorless liquid, CHCl, prepared by heating ethyl alcohol with hydrogen chloride in the presence of zinc chloride: used in preparing tetraethyl lead and ethyl cellulose, and as a local anesthetic
See ethyl chloride in American Heritage Dictionary 4
noun
A chemical compound, C2H5Cl, a gas at ordinary temperatures and a colorless volatile flammable liquid when compressed, used as a solvent, as a refrigerant, and in the manufacture of tetraethyl lead.