prussic acid

noun

prus·​sic acid ˈprə-sik- How to pronounce prussic acid (audio)
: hydrocyanic acid

Examples of prussic acid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This included a witness who claimed that Lizzie Borden had tried to buy prussic acid, a fast-acting poison containing hydrogen cyanide, the day before the murders. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Aug. 2026 Broken-down cherry pits expose your body to prussic acid more easily. — Lauren Manaker Ms, Rdn, Verywell Health, 11 Aug. 2023 In 1892, prussic acid, a lethal poison, was only available with a doctor's prescription. — Erin Moriarty, CBS News, 31 July 2021

Word History

Etymology

French prussique, from (bleu de) Prusse Prussian blue

First Known Use

1790, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of prussic acid was in 1790

Rhymes for prussic acid

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Browse Nearby Words

prussiate of potash
prussic acid
Prut
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Cite this Entry

“Prussic acid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prussic%20acid. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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Medical Definition

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