mustard gas

mus·tard gas (HD),

a poisonous vesicating gas introduced in World War I; it is the progenitor of the so-called nitrogen mustards; used in chemical warfare; a known carcinogen.

Synonym(s): di, mustard (2) , sulfur mustard

One of a class of cytotoxic, vesicant chemical warfare agents which form large blisters on exposed skin and respiratory tract mucosa. In addition to vesicle formation, mustard gas is mutagenic and carcinogenic and stores long term in fat.

mus·tard gas

(mŭs'tărd gas)

A commonly used term for the vesicating chemical-warfare agent sulfur mustard, even though sulfur mustard is usually encountered as a solid, a liquid, or a vapor and does not boil until 217°C (423°F).