A historical term for a powdered antimony compound used in medieval times as an eyeliner or cosmetic, also called kohl.
From Arabic 'al-kohl,' which gives us the English word 'kohl.' The 'alquifou' form shows Romance language adaptation of the Arabic original, passing through Spanish or Portuguese intermediaries.
Antimony eyeliner (kohl) wasn't just cosmetic—it actually had medicinal properties and protected eyes from sun glare and infections, so medieval beauty and practical hygiene were inseparable!
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