Quick"sil`ver (?), n. [Quick living + silver; -- so called from its fluidity; cf. G. quecksilber, L. argentum vivum. See Quick, a.] Chem.
The metal mercury; -- so called from its resemblance to liquid silver.
Quicksilver horizon, a mercurial artificial horizon. See under Horizon. -- Quicksilver water, a solution of mercury nitrate used in artificial silvering; quick water.
© Webster 1913.