Lith'arge, n.

[Fr. litharge, Sp. litarge, litargirio, It. litargiro, litargirio, litargilio, Lat. lithargyrus, Gr. λιθάργυρος, the scum or foam of silver, from λίθος, stone, and ἄργυρος, silver.] (Chem.) Protoxide of lead, produced by exposing melted lead to a current of air. It fuses readily, and, on cooling, forms a mass consisting of glistering, semitransparent, yellow or reddish-yellow scales. It generally contains more or less red lead, whence the variations in its color. Dana.