| orpiment | <chemistry> Arsenic sesquisulphide, produced artificially as an amorphous lemonyellow 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. "Our orpiment and sublimed mercurie." (Chaucer) Red orpiment, realgar; the red sulphide of arsenic. Yellow orpiment, king's yellow. Origin: F, fr. L. Auripigmentum; aurum gold + pigmentum pigment. Cf. Aureate, Pigment, Orpin, Orpine. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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