Orpiment

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Orpiment \Or"pi*ment\, n. [F., fr. L. auripigmentum; aurum gold
     + pigmentum pigment. Cf. {Aureate}, {Pigment}, {Orpin},
     {Orpine}.] (Chem.)
     Arsenic sesquisulphide, produced artificially as an amorphous
     lemon-yellow powder, and occurring naturally as a yellow
     crystalline mineral; -- formerly called {auripigment}. It is


     used in king's yellow, in white Indian fire, and in certain
     technical processes, as indigo printing.
     [1913 Webster]
  
           Our orpiment and sublimed mercurie.      --Chaucer.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Red orpiment}, realgar; the red sulphide of arsenic.
  
     {Yellow orpiment}, king's yellow.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  orpiment
       n : a yellow mineral occuring in conjunction with realgar; an
           ore of arsenic