a colourless easily liquefied poisonous gas, carbonyl chloride, with an odour resembling that of new-mown hay: used in chemical warfare as a lethal choking agent and in the manufacture of pesticides, dyes, and polyurethane resins. Formula: COCl2
Word origin
C19: from Greek phōs light + -gene, variant of -gen
phosgene in American English
(ˈfɑsˌdʒin)
noun
a colorless, volatile, highly poisonous liquid, COCl2, prepared by the reaction of carbon monoxide with chlorine in the presence of activated charcoal or, orig., in sunlight; carbonyl chloride: used as a poison gas, in organic synthesis, in making dyes, etc.
Word origin
so named (1812) by Sir Humphry Davy < Gr phōs, light (see phosphorus) + -gene, -gen