A brittle, silvery-white metallic element used in alloys, flame retardants, and semiconductors. Historically, antimony compounds were used in cosmetics, medicine, and alchemy.
From Arabic al-ithmid, referring to a mineral form of antimony sulfide used as eye makeup and medicine. The word passed through Medieval Latin as antimonium, then into Old French and Middle English by the 15th century. The Arabic term reflects the metal's early use in Islamic medicine and cosmetics, particularly as kohl for eye makeup.
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