mustard gas

noun

: an irritant vesicant oily liquid C₄H₈Cl₂S used especially as a chemical weapon

Examples of mustard gas in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Earlier this year, the organization also determined that the Islamic State group used mustard gas in an attack on the town of Marea. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024

The trail links Rocky Flats with the Rocky Mountain Arsenal, land outside of downtown Denver that also was cleaned up after contamination from the manufacture of chemical warfare agents, including mustard gas, for World War II. —Gary Stoller, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

Chemical weapons, which contain phosgene, arsenic and sulfur mustard (also known as mustard gas), are too lethal to handle, probably ever, admits Guldin. —Paul Hockenos, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Sep. 2024

Derived from a relative of mustard gas, the drug is known to be highly toxic to a variety of blood cells; in fact, doctors had long used it to kill the diseased bone marrow in patients before transplant. —Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 18 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

mustard gas

noun

: a poisonous gas used in war that has strongly irritating and especially blistering effects

Medical Definition

mustard gas

noun

: an irritant oily liquid C₄H₈Cl₂S used especially as a chemical weapon that causes blistering, attacks the eyes and lungs, and is a systemic poison

called also dichlorethyl sulfide, sulfur mustard