lunar caustic

noun

: silver nitrate especially when fused and molded into sticks for use as a caustic

Word History

Etymology

lunar "of silver," borrowed from Medieval Latin lūnāris "of silver, lunar," from Latin lūna "moon" as an alchemist's name for silver

First Known Use

1751, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

lunar caustic

noun

: silver nitrate especially when fused and molded into sticks or small cones for use as a caustic