From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Ratsbane \Rats"bane`\ (r[a^]ts"b[=a]n`), n. [Rat + bane.]
Rat poison; white arsenic.
[1913 Webster]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
Arsenic \Ar"se*nic\ ([aum]r"s[-e]*n[i^]k; 277), n. [L.
arsenicum, Gr. 'arseniko`n, 'arreniko`n, yellow orpiment,
perh. fr. 'arseniko`s or better Attic 'arreniko`s masculine,
'a`rrhn male, on account of its strength, or fr. Per.
zern[imac]kh: cf. F. arsenic.]
1. (Chem.) One of the elements, a solid substance resembling
a metal in its physical properties, but in its chemical
relations ranking with the nonmetals. It is of a
steel-gray color and brilliant luster, though usually dull
from tarnish. It is very brittle, and sublimes at 356[deg]
Fahrenheit. It is sometimes found native, but usually
combined with silver, cobalt, nickel, iron, antimony, or
sulphur. Orpiment and realgar are two of its sulphur
compounds, the first of which is the true arsenicum of the
ancients. The element and its compounds are active
poisons. Specific gravity from 5.7 to 5.9. Atomic weight
75. Symbol As.
[1913 Webster]
2. (Com.) Arsenious oxide or arsenious anhydride; -- called
also {arsenious acid}, {white arsenic}, and {ratsbane}.
[1913 Webster]
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
ratsbane
n 1: a white powdered poisonous trioxide of arsenic; used in
manufacturing glass and as a pesticide (rat poison) and
weed killer [syn: {arsenic}, {arsenic trioxide}, {arsenous
anhydride}, {arsenous oxide}, {white arsenic}, {ratsbane}]
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