mercaptan Hear it!

mercaptan definition

mer·cap·tan (mər kap′tan′)

noun

any of a class of thiol compounds analogous to the alcohols, characterized by the substitution of sulfur for oxygen in the OH radical and by strong, unpleasant odors; hydrosulfide

Etymology: Ger, contr. < ML mercurium captans, lit., seizing mercury < L mercurius, mercury (see mercury, n.) + captans, prp. of captare, to seize, freq. of capere: see have

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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