Sulphur sb. World English Historical Dictionary

Sulphur sb. World English Historical Dictionary Dictionary Biographies Literary Criticism Welcome Terms of Service ⧏ Previous Next ⧐ Contents Slice Contents Key Bibliographic Record Murray’s New English Dictionary. 1919, rev. 2024. Sulphur sb. Forms: 4–7 sulphre, 5–7 sulphure, 5, 7, 9 (now U.S.) sulfur, 6–7 sulpher, (4 sou(l)fre, soulphre, 5 solfre, 6 sulfure, sulfre, sulphyr, 7 sulfer), 5– sulphur. [a. AF. sulf(e)re (12th c.), OF. (mod.F.) soufre (from 13th c.) Pr. solfre, solpre, sulpre, It. solfo, zolfo, OSp. çufre, Pg. xofre (also, with Arabic article prefixed, OSp. açufre, Sp. azufre, Pg. enxofre):—L. sulfur(em), sulphur(em), whence also Du. sulfer, solfer.]

1   1.  A greenish-yellow non-metallic substance, found abundantly in volcanic regions, and occurring free in nature as a brittle crystalline solid, and widely distributed in combination with metals and other substances. In popular and commercial language it is otherwise known as BRIMSTONE. (See also SULPHUR VIVUM.) In Chemistry, one of the non-metallic elements: atomic weight 32, symbol S.

2   Sulphur exists in two distinct crystalline forms and in an amorphous form. It is manufactured largely from native sulphides of copper and iron; when refined and cast into molds, it is the roll or stick sulphur of commerce. It is highly inflammable, and is used in the manufacture of matches, gunpowder and sulphuric acid, for vulcanizing rubber, in bleaching and as a disinfectant.

3   In popular belief sulphur has been associated with the fires of hell, with devils, and with thunder and lightning.

4 13[?].  E. E. Allit. P., B. 954. Þe rayn … Of felle flaunkes of fyr & flakes of soufre. Ibid., 1036. Alum & alkaran … Soufre sour, & saundyuer.

5 1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 264. Eft with water … Sche made a cercle aboute him thries, And eft with fyr of sulphre twyes.

6 a. 1420.  ? Lydg., Assembly of Gods, 314. Of fyre and sulphure all hys [sc. Pluto’s] odour wase.

7 1549.  Thomas, Hist. Italie, 113 b. The veyne of sulfure in the earth, receiuyng sometymes through the extreme heate of the sonne, a certaine kynde of fyre, kendleth.

8 1595.  Locrine, III. vi. 51. Through burning sulphur of the Limbo-lake.

9 1604.  Shaks., Oth., III. iii. 329. The Mines of Sulphure.

10 1638–56.  Cowley, Davideis, III. Note xxx. Thunder hath sulphur in it.

11 1667.  Milton, P. L., I. 69. A fiery Deluge, fed With ever-burning Sulphur unconsum’d.

12 1764.  Grainger, Sugar-Cane, II. 241. Sulphur’s suffocating steam.

13 1790.  Kerr, trans. Lavoisier’s Elem. Chem., 221. They do not sufficiently disoxygenate the decomposed part of the acid to reconvert it into sulphur.

14 1846.  G. Bird, Urin. Deposits (ed. 2), 27. The sulphur existing in the blood.

15 1871.  Tennyson, Last Tourn., 614. Near me stood, In fuming sulphur blue and green, a fiend.

16 1881.  Med. Temp. Jrnl., XLVIII. 194. Sulphur combines with carbon, in two proportions of the former with one of the latter.

17 1891.  F. Taylor, Man. Pract. Med. (ed. 2), 72. Good results have been got by burning sulphur in the rooms inhabited by the child.

18   b.  In a refined state, e.g., as flowers of sulphur, it is used medicinally as a laxative, a resolvent, and a sudorific, and as an ingredient of various ointments, esp. for skin diseases.

19 c. 1400.  Lanfranc’s Cirurg., 216. Anointing of oile of camomille & solfre grounden togidere.

20 a. 1425.  trans. Arderne’s Treat. Fistula, etc., 46. Ane enoyntment made of sope and sulphure.

21 1578.  Lyte, Dodoens, III. xx[x]iv. 365. The iuyce of the roote [of Thapsia] … mingled with sulfre, dissolueth al swellinges being layd vpon.

22 1789.  W. Buchan, Dom. Med. (1790), 641. What stimulants are more active than salt and sulphur?

23 1897.  H. Aldersmith, Ringworm (ed. 4), 185. Sulphur in some form is one of the best applications for ringworm.

24 1908.  W. J. Courthope, in Blackw. Mag., Sept., 298. The blood impure Sulphur’s sharp grains alone have strength to cure.

25   c.  With qualification indicating color, form, state, origin, etc.: see the qualifying words, and quots. below.

26   Virgin sulphur, native sulphur in the form of transparent amber-colored crystals. Volcanic sulphur, native sulphur in opaque, lemon-yellow, crystalline masses. Sulphur of ivy, corruption of SULPHUR VIVUM.

27 1559, 1590.  [see QUICK a. 14].

28 1668.  Charleton, Onomast., 235. Sulphur Virgineum … Virgin Sulphur.

29 1725.  Fam. Dict., s.v., There are two sorts, one of which is call’d Live Sulphur, and the other Common or Yellow Sulphur. Live or Quick Sulphur is a grey, fat, clayey, inflammable Matter.

30 1728.  Chambers, Cycl., Sulphur … is particularly call’d Fossil, or Mineral Sulphur, to distinguish it from the Sulphur of Metals, or of the Philosophers.

31 1753.  Chambers, Cycl., Suppl. s.v., The green native sulphur. Ibid., The red native sulphur.

32 1867.  Chambers’ Encycl., IX. 199/1. Under the names of Black Sulphur, or Sulphur vivum (commonly inquired for at the chemist’s under the title of Sulphur of Ivy).

33 1911.  Encycl. Brit., XXVI. 62/1. Such pyrites sulphur is usually contaminated with arsenic. Ibid., 62/2. Commercial sulphur forms yellow crystals.

34   d.  † Acid of sulphur, sulphuric acid; † balm, † magistery of sulphur, milk of sulphur; † oil of sulphur, ? sulphuric acid; † salt of sulphur, ? potassium sulphate ‘impregnated’ with sulphuric oxide; † spirit of sulphur, sulphuric oxide.

35   See also ALCOHOL 2, BALSAM sb. 2 b, FLOWER sb. 2 c. LIVER sb.1 4, MILK sb. 4, RUBY sb. 6 b.

36 1696.  Phillips (ed. 5), s.v., Flower of Sulphur, the purest of the Sulphur, that sticks to the Head of the Alembic, in sublimation by Fire.

37 1704.  J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. Salt of Sulphur, a Preparation in Chymistry, improperly so called, since it is only a Sal Polychrestum impregnated with Spirit of Sulphur, and then reduced to an Acid Salt by Evaporation of all the Moisture.

38 1706.  Phillips (ed. Kersey), Spirit of Sulphur … is commonly call’d Oil of Sulphur per Campanam, from the Vessel’s Shape, being like a Glass-bell, in which it is usually drawn.

39 1728.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Magistery, or Balm … of Sulphur is … called Milk of Sulphur from its Whiteness.

40 1744.  Phil. Trans., XLIII. 1. The volatile Acid of Sulphur.

41   † e.  pl. Masses or deposits of native sulphur.

42 1697.  Dryden, Virg. Georg., III. 684. The Founts where living Sulphurs boil.

43 1771.  Ann. Reg., II. 78/1. The inside of the crater, which is incrusted with salts and sulphurs like that of Vesuvius.

44   2.  Alch. One of the supposed ultimate elements of all material substances.

45 1390.  Gower, Conf., II. 85. The quikselver … Is ferst of thilke fowre named Of Spiritz,… And the spirit which is secounde In Sal Armoniak is founde: The thridde spirit Sulphur is.

46 c. 1480[?].  Pater Sapientiæ, in Ashm. (1652), 197. Some say that of Sulphur and Mercury all Bodyes minerall are made.

47 c. 1585[?], etc.  [see SALT sb.1 4].

48 1616.  B. Jonson, Alch., II. iii. 153. Where it [sc. matter] retaines more of the humid fatnesse, It turnes to sulphur, or to quicksiluer.

49 1671.  J. Webster, Metallogr., iv. 73. Sulpher is nothing else than pure fire hid in the Mercury.

50 1683.  Pettus, Fleta Min., II. 121. All things do consist of Salt, Sulphur and Mercury.

51 1719.  Quincy, Compl. Disp., 8. Sulphur or Oil is very soft and unctuous and the lightest part of Bodies next to Spirit.

52 1729.  [see MERCURY sb. 8].

53 1894.  Muir, Alch. Ess. & Chem. El., 12.

54   b.  fig.

55 1591.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. i. 577. He that,… swelting at the Furnace, fineth bright Our soules dire sulphur.

56 1599.  T. M[oufet], Silkwormes, 45. Melt not the golden Sulphur of your hart In following stil this fond and fruitlesse art.

57 1611.  Chapman, Rev. Bussy d’Ambois, V. iii. 11. Her vnmatched spirit Can iudge of spirits, that haue her sulphure in them.

58   † 3.  A compound of salphur; esp. a sulphide. Obs.

59 1471.  Ripley, Comp. Alch., Ep., in Ashm. (1652), 111. If it please your Highnes for to reade, Of divers Sulphurs.

60 1670.  Cable, trans. Valent. Nat. & Supernat. Things, 113. The Sulphur of Iron is found in the Ruby, the Sulphur of Venus in the Emerald.

61 1683.  Digby’s Chym. Secr., 33. Make also a Sulphur of the said Metals.

62 1704.  J. Harris, Lex. Techn., I. Golden Sulphur of Antimony, is made by boiling the Dross arising in the making of Regulus of Antimony in a little more than its weight of common Water … for about half an Hour, and then straining the Liquor, there is Vinegar poured upon it; on which a Reddish or Gold-colour Powder will precipitate.

63 1849–50.  Weale, Dict. Terms, Golden-sulphur of antimony, golden yellow, is the hydro-sulphuret of antimony.

64 1853.  Mayne, Expos. Lex., 39/1. The white sulphur of the alchemists.

65   4.  † a. Applied to thunder and lightning, a discharge of gunpowder, etc. Obs.

66 1607.  Shaks., Cor., V. iii. 152. To teare with Thunder the wide Cheekes a’ th’ Ayre, And yet to change [? read charge] thy Sulphure with a Boult That should but riue an Oake. Ibid. (1611), Cymb., V. v. 240. The Gods throw stones of sulpher on me.

67 c. 1611.  Chapman, Iliad, XIV. 346. His [sc. Jove’s] sulphure casting with the blow, a strong, vnsauoury smoke.

68 1616.  Drumm. of Hawth., Madrigals, xviii. Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 107. When first the Canon … Against the Heauen her roaring Sulphure shote.

69   b.  Applied popularly to minerals containing sulphur or supposed to be sulphurous.

70 1799.  Mushet, in Phil. Mag., IV. 381, note. When super-carbonated crude iron is run from the furnace, it is frequently covered with a scurf, which when cold is found to be a coating of plumbago…: this substance is universally denominated sulphur, and, as the most expressive adjective for that quality, we say that the iron is sulphury.

71 1872.  S. De Vere, Americanisms, 424. The term sulphur is altogether erroneously given to bituminous rocks occurring in Kentucky and Tennessee, even when no sulphur is present.

72 1881.  Raymond, Mining Gloss., Sulphur, iron pyrites.

73   † c.  A volcano. Obs. rare.

74 1764.  Grainger, Sugar-Cane, II. 392, note. Volcanoes are called sulphurs or solfaterres in the West Indies.

75   d.  Mining (local). Carburetted hydrogen, firedamp.

76 1851.  Greenwell, Coal-trade Terms Northumb. & Durh., 53.

77 1869.  Eng. Mech., 3 Dec., 276/1.

78   e.  Vegetable sulphur: see VEGETABLE a. 7.

79   5.  ellipt. a. = sulphur butterfly (see 9).

80 1832.  J. Rennie, Consp. Butterfl. & M., 2. The Clouded Sulphur (Colias Euprome, Stephens). Ibid., 223. The Sulphur (Tinea sulphurella, Haworth) appears in November.

81 1891.  B. G. Johns, Among Butterfl., 111. A yellow butterfly which he at first took to be a common Sulphur.

82 1902.  W. J. Holland, Butterfly Bk., 285. Genus Catopsilia … (The Great Sulphurs). Ibid., 289. Genus Colias … (The Sulphurs). Ibid., 294. Genus Terias … (The Small Sulphurs).

83   b.  = sulphur-headed cauliflower (see 9).

84 1842.  Loudon, Suburban Hort., 626. The late sulphur, sown at the same time, will come into use during April and May.

85   c.  = sulphur-cast, -impression (see 8).

86 1867.  Ure’s Dict. Arts (ed. 6), III. 857. Sulphurs, impressions taken by the goldsmiths of the sixteenth century from the engravings executed on plate, paxes, &c., and which they obtained by spreading a layer of melted sulphur on the face of the plate.

87   6.  colloq. or slang. Pungent talk, ‘sulphurous’ language.

88 1897.  Daily News, 31 Aug., 5/7. Doing nothing but sit round and talk sulphur about the new tariff.

89 1906.  Pall Mall Gaz., 11 Jan., 1. By putting as much sulphur as possible into his notorious election address.

90   7.  attrib. and Comb. a. Simple attrib. = Of, pertaining to, consisting of, or containing sulphur, as sulphur ball, bed, cure, deposit, dust, flake, flame, fume, fumigation, hill, mine, ore, salt, soap, spa, stick, vein, water, well; in medicinal preparations, as sulphur electuary, lotion, lozenge, ointment, tablet.

91 1590.  Marlowe, 2nd Pt. Tamburl., III. ii. 41. As if Bellona, Goddesse of the war Threw naked swords and *sulphur-bals of fire.

92 1878.  Times, 10 May, 4/3. There are, moreover, three great *sulphur beds [in the land of Midian].

93 1868.  Rep. U.S. Commissioner Agric. (1869), 571. The *sulphur-cure for the oïdium, the most formidable disease that attacks the vine.

94 1911.  Encycl. Brit., XXVI. 61/1. The *sulphur-deposits of Sicily.

95 1688.  R. Holme, Armoury, III. xvi. (Roxb.), 92/1. Little balls made vp of powder wett, and rowled in *sulphur dust.

96 1728.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Sulphur-Dust well sifted.

97 1843.  R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xxx. 420. I have … seen very good effects from a perseverance in the use of the *sulphur electuary.

98 1820.  Shelley, Vis. Sea, 21. Like *sulphur-flakes hurled from a mine of pale fire.

99 1592.  Kyd, Sp. Trag., III. xi. 76. Vpon a *sulpher flame, Your selues shall finde Lorenzo bathing him In boyling lead.

100 1856.  Buckton & Hofmann, in Q. Jrnl. Chem. Soc., IX. 251. The black residue burns with a sulphur-flame.

101 1868.  Chambers’ Encycl., X. 744/1. There is … nothing new in applying *sulphur-fumes … as a disinfectant.

102 1895.  Arnold & Sons’ Catal. Surg. Instrum., 287. Sulphur Fumes Apparatus (Adams’s), for diphtheria.

103 1886.  Fagge, Princ. Med., II. 665. *Sulphur lotions or *sulphur fumigations may be substituted.

104 1632.  Lithgow, Trav., IX. 403. This Grotto … standeth on the side and root of a *sulphure hill.

105 1844.  Hoblyn, Dict. Terms Med. (ed. 2), 377/1. *Sulphur lozenges … used in asthma and in hæmorrhoïds.

106 1591.  Sylvester, Du Bartas, I. iii. 320. Streams, distilling through the *Sulphur-Mines.

107 1656.  J. Harrington, Oceana (1658), 116. Grotta di cane … is nothing else but such a damp (continued by the neighbourhood of certain Sulphur-mines).

108 1828.  Duppa, Trav. Italy, etc., 143. The town [of Siculiana] derives considerable advantages from sulphur mines.

109 1822–7.  Good, Study Med. (1829), V. 653. The simplest … cure is to be obtained by the *sulphur ointment.

110 1675.  W. Simpson, Sulphur-Bath Knarsb., 4. The Salt separated from the Sulphur-water, being put into boyling Milk, will make it shil into Curds and Whey;… we … found the *Sulphur Salt to cause a speedy separation.

111 1899.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 610. The patient may be washed with *sulphur soap, or with sulphur and tar soap.

112 1709.  T. Robinson, Nat. Hist. Westmd. & Cumbd., vii. 45. Towards the Borders of Northumberland, is a *Sulphur-Spaw.

113 1868.  Chambers, Encycl., X. 744/1. A piece of *sulphur-stick.

114 1723.  Blackmore, Alfred, V. 150. Naphtha and *Sulphur-Veins, that kindled rage.

115 1665.  in Verney Mem. (1907), II. 243. The first inst we arrived att the nasty Spaw, and have now began to drinke the horid *sulfer watter.

116 1854.  J. L. Stephens, Centr. Amer., 258. A stream of sulphur-water.

117 1651.  J. French, Yorkshire Spaw (title-p.), The Stinking, or *Sulphur Well.

118 1675.  W. Simpson, Sulphur-Bath Knarsb., 1. The Sulphur-Well at Knarsbrough.

119 1873.  Jrnl. Chem. Soc., XXVI. 1090. Two of the most noted Harrogate Spas, viz., the ‘Old Sulphur Well’ and the ‘Chloride of Iron Spa.’

120   b.  in chemical terms, as sulphur atom, base, compound, dioxide, group, pyrites, series, trioxide, vapour.

121 1911.  Encycl. Brit., XXVI. 64/1. The junction of one ethyl group with a *sulphur atom in the second salt.

122 1857.  Miller, Elem. Chem., Org., i. 36. *Sulphur Compound.

123 1869.  Roscoe, Elem. Chem., xii. 126. *Sulphur [ed. 1866 Sulphuric] Dioxide, or Sulphurous Acid.

124 1884.  Ogilvie, s.v., *Sulphur group, the elementary substances sulphur, selenium, and tellurium; all having a strong attraction for oxygen.

125 1856.  Miller, Elem. Chem., Inorg., 565. Sulphurous acid is … regarded as the starting point of several combinations belonging to the *sulphur series.

126 1869.  Roscoe, Elem. Chem., xiii. 129. *Sulphur [ed. 1866 Sulphuric] Trioxide, or Sulphuric Anhydride.

127 1844.  Fownes, Man. Elem. Chem., 264. The density of … *sulphur-vapour.

128   c.  Objective and instrumental, as sulphur-bearing, -containing, -flaming, -headed, -impregnated, -scented, -smoking, -tipped ppl. adjs.; sulphur-roast vb.

129 1911.  Encycl. Brit., XXVI. 61/2. *Sulphur-bearing Miocene rocks. Ibid., 64/2. A group of *sulphur-containing acids of general formula H2S2O6.

130 1601.  Weever, Mirr. Mart. (Roxb.), 198. On flintie Etnaes *sulphur-flaming mountaines.

131 1898.  ‘H. S. Merriman,’ Roden’s Corner, xvii. 178. The wooden, *sulphur-headed matches supplied by the café.

132 1891.  Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, lvii. The pale *sulphur-impregnated waters of the river Albula.

133 1802.  Coleridge, Lett. to Southey, 25 Dec. The Devil *sulphur-roast them!

134 1867.  Augusta Wilson, Vashti, vi. Some red-liveried, *sulphur-scented imp of Abaddon.

135 1628.  Mure, Doomesday, 128 Wks. (S.T.S.), I. 167. Hell’s *sulphure-smoking throat.

136 1728.  Pope, Dunc., I. 235. Ye shall not … *sulphur-tipt, emblaze an Ale-house fire.

137   8.  Special combs.: sulphur acid, an old name for sulphides of electronegative metals, as arsenic, antimony; sulphur alcohol, a compound of the nature of an alcohol in which sulphur replaces oxygen; sulphur bath, † (a) a sulphur-spring; (b) a bath to which flowers of sulphur have been added, used in the treatment of skin diseases; sulphur-cast = sulphur-impression; sulphur-colo(u)r, -colo(u)red a. = sulphur-yellow sb. and adj.; also sulphur-hued, -tinted; sulphur cone (see quot.); sulphur ether, a compound analogous to ether in which sulphur replaces oxygen; sulphur-impression, an impression taken of a seal, medallion, etc., in a composition consisting of sulphur and wax; sulphur-match, a lucifer match tipped with sulphur; sulphur-ore, an ore that yields sulphur, e.g., iron pyrites; so sulphur-pyrites; sulphur rain (see quot.); sulphur salt, an old name for a salt produced by the combination of a ‘sulphur acid’ with another metallic base; sulphur-shower = sulphur rain; sulphur-spring, a spring containing compounds of sulphur or impregnated with sulphurous gases; sulphur-tree, a hard-wooded tree, Morinda lucida, found in West Central Africa and used for building purposes; sulphur-weed = SULPHURWORT; sulphur-work(s, a sulphur manufactory; sulphur-yellow sb. and a., (of) the pale-yellow color characteristic of sulphur.

138 1836.  T. Thomson, Min., Geol., etc. II. 507. The compounds which it [sc. sulphur] forms with arsenic and antimony … constitute *sulphur acids.

139 1868.  Watts, Dict. Chem., V. 643. Sulphur-acids, or Sulphanhydrides.

140 1876.  Encycl. Brit., V. 553/1. *Sulphur, Selenium, and Tellurium Alcohols and Ethers.

141 1675.  W. Simpson (title), A Discourse of the *Sulphur-Bath at Knarsbrough in York-Shire.

142 1843.  R. J. Graves, Syst. Clin. Med., xxviii. 355. By the use of sulphur baths,… all were greatly improved.

143 1891.  Farrar, Darkn. & Dawn, iii. The sulphur baths of Sinuessa.

144 1909.  Le Queux, House of Whispers, xxviii. *Sulphur-casts of seals recently acquired by that institution.

145 1866.  Treas. Bot., Sulphureus, *sulphur-colour; a pale bright yellow, with a mixture of white.

146 1897.  Daily News, 24 April, 6/4. Sulphur-colour goes admirably with tan.

147 1811.  Shaw, Gen. Zool., VIII. II. 480. A *sulphur-coloured spot beneath each eye.

148 1899.  Allbutt’s Syst. Med., VIII. 863. Sulphur-coloured scabs.

149 1843.  Francis, Dict. Arts, *Sulphur Cone, an electrical experiment and apparatus to prove the effect of separation of the contact of two bodies, occasioning them to show signs of electricity.

150 1857.  Gosse, Omphalos, vii. 172. Delicate *sulphur-hued flowers.

151 1840.  R. Ellis, Customs, IV. 154. Duties on … *Sulphur Impressions, for every 100l values £5 0s. 0d.

152 1830.  M. Donovan, Dom. Econ., I. 281. By means of burning *sulphur matches in the casks.

153 1879.  Farrar, St. Paul (1883), 568. They sold sulphur matches, and old clothes, and broken glass.

154 1681.  Grew, Musæum, III. III. ii. 345. *Sulphur-Ore … if burnt … hath the scent of Brimstone.

155 1871.  Jrnl. Chem. Soc., XXIV. 449. On the Roasting of Sulphur Ores, with a New Roasting Oven.

156 1796.  Kirwan, Elem. Min. (ed. 2), II. 75. The compound of Sulphur and Iron, called Martial Pyrites, or, *Sulphur Pyrites and often simply Pyrites.

157 1882.  H. Edmonds, Elem. Bot., 132. Often in Fir forests the pollen is given off into the air in such enormous quantities that it is washed down by the rain as a yellow powder, and is popularly known as *sulphur rain.

158 1836.  T. Thomson, Min., Geol., etc., II. 507. Sulphur acids … have the property of combining with other metallic sulphurets as bases, and thus of forming what are called *sulphur salts.

159 1883.  Evang. Mag., July, 311. The so-called *‘sulphur-showers’ often seen in pine forests.

160 1874.  Jrnl. Chem. Soc., XXVII. 881. The Sulphur Springs of Trentschin-Teplitz.

161 1895.  Daily News, 2 Aug., 6/6. *Sulphur-tinted nasturtiums.

162 1863.  R. F. Burton, Abeok. & Camaroons, II. 77. The *sulphur-tree … also called brimstone-tree.

163 1850.  Miss Pratt, Comm. Things Sea-side, i. 67. The Sea *Sulphur-weed.

164 1870.  Kingsley, At Last, ii. In 1836, two gentlemen of Antigua … set up *sulphur works at the Souffrière of St. Lucia.

165 1816.  Stephens, in Shaw’s Gen. Zool., IX. II. 381. Bunting of a blood-coloured rufous; beneath *sulphur-yellow.

166 1896.  W. F. Kirby, Handbk. Order Lepid., II. 209. Of a yellow colour, varying from light sulphur-yellow to deep orange.

167   9.  attrib. passing into adj. = ‘Of the colour of sulphur, sulphur-coloured, sulphur-yellow,’ chiefly in specific names of animals having sulphur-yellow coloring, as sulphur butterfly, cockatoo, parrakeet, pearl; esp. in parasynthetic comb., as sulphur-bellied, -breasted, -crested, -headed adjs.; sulphur-bottom (in full sulphur-bottom whale), a rorqual of the Pacific Ocean, Balænoptera sulphurea, having yellow underparts; also sulphur-whale.

168 1884.  Coues, N. Amer. Birds, 431. Myiodynastes luteiventris, *Sulphur-bellied Striped Flycatcher.

169 1782.  Crevecœur, Lett. Amer. Farmer, vi. (1783), 111. The *sulphur-bottom, river St. Lawrence, ninety feet long.

170 1904.  F. T. Bullen, Creat. Sea, xiv. 177. A huge sulphur-bottom whale … which … attains a maximum length of one hundred and fifty feet.

171 1909.  Daily Chron., 6 Feb., 3/3. The *sulphur-breasted toucan.

172 1879.  Jefferies, Wild Life in S. Co., 207. *Sulphur butterflies hover here early in the spring.

173 1891.  B. G. Johns, Among Butterfl., 98. The Brimstone or Sulphur butterfly.

174 1899.  Daily News, 7 Oct., 8/5. White or *sulphur-chain-stitch.

175 1893.  F. F. Moore, I forbid Banns, 73. Did you ever hear a real *sulphur cockatoo in its own woods, mister?

176 1811.  Shaw, Gen. Zool., VIII. II. 480. Smaller *Sulphur-crested Cockatoo, Psittacus sulphureus.

177 1842.  Loudon, Suburban Hort., 626. *Sulphur-headed [cauliflower], of which the best variety is the Portsmouth.

178 1811.  Shaw, Gen. Zool., VIII. II. 428. *Sulphur Parrakeet.

179 1832.  J. Rennie, Butterfl. & M., 152. The *Sulphur Pearl (Margaritia palealis, Stephens).

180 a. 1860.  J. W. Dawson, in Borthwick’s Br. Amer. Rdr., 221. Another rorqual … is known from its yellow belly as the *sulphur-whale.

181   † b.  as adj. Sulphureous, sulphurous. Obs.

182 1594.  Marlowe & Nashe, Dido, II. i. Came Hector’s ghost, With ashy visage, blueish sulphur eyes.

183 1596.  Edward III., III. i. 121. Stir, angry Nemesis, the happie helme, That, with the sulphur battels of your rage, The English Fleete may be disperst and sunke.

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