noun
- Plural of lewisite; chemical warfare agents consisting of arsenic-containing compounds that cause severe blistering and respiratory damage.
Usage: technical; military/chemical warfare context; historical reference to World War I era weapons
Examples
- Lewisites were developed as chemical weapons during World War I.
- The chemical properties of lewisites made them particularly dangerous to exposed skin.
- Military historians study lewisites as part of the history of chemical warfare.
- Protective equipment was essential when handling lewisites in laboratory settings.
- International treaties now prohibit the production and stockpiling of lewisites.