'Chloral' definitions:
Definition of 'Chloral'
From: GCIDE
- Chloral \Chlo"ral\, n. [Chlorine + alcohol.]
- 1. (Chem.) A colorless oily liquid, CCl3.CHO, of a pungent odor and harsh taste, obtained by the action of chlorine upon ordinary or ethyl alcohol. [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Med.) Chloral hydrate. [1913 Webster]
Definition of 'chloral'
From: GCIDE
- chloral hydrate \chloral hydrate\ n.
- 1. a chemical substance (CCl3.CH(OH)2) which is a hydrate of trichloroacetaldehyde. It crystallizes as white monoclinic plates, obtained by treating chloral with water. It produces sleep when taken internally or hypodermically, and is used in medicine as a hypnotic and sedative; -- called also chloral
- Note: It may be habit-forming, and is a controlled substance listed in the U. S. Code of Federal Regulations. It is sometimes used to render a person unconscious for illegal or nefarious purposes, and in this use, a concentrated solution is one of the agents called knockout drops. [PJC]