Mer-căp'tan, n.

noun

n. [Fr. mercaptan, from N. Lat. mercurius, mercury, and Lat. captans, P. pr. of captare, to seize, v. intens. from capere, id.] (Chem.) A liquid of a strong garlic odor, composed of sulphur, carbon, and hydrogen; — so named from its energetic action on mercury.