White lead; a white powder or pigment made from lead carbonate, historically used in paints, cosmetics, and medicines despite its toxicity.
From Old French 'ceruse,' derived from Latin 'cerussa.' Used since ancient times for white pigments; the term comes from what may be a Semitic origin referring to whiteness.
Renaissance women painted their faces white with ceruse, not knowing they were slowly poisoning themselves—lead accumulates in bones and organs, and many historical paintings show signs of artists' lead poisoning!
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