Calomel \Cal"o*mel\, n. [Gr. ????? beautiful + ????? black. So
called from its being white, though made from a black mixture
of mercury and corrosive sublimate. Cf. F. calom['e]las.]
(Chem.)
Mild chloride of mercury, {Hg2Cl2}, a heavy, white or
yellowish white substance, insoluble and tasteless, much used
in medicine as a mercurial and purgative; mercurous chloride.
It occurs native as the mineral horn quicksilver.