 2 definitions found
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Mercaptan \Mer*cap"tan\, noun [F., fr. NL. mercurius mercury + L.
captans, p. pr. of captare to seize, v. intens. fr. capere.]
(Chem.)
Any one of series of compounds having an {-SH} radical
attached to a carbon atom, also considered as hydrosulphides
of alcohol radicals, in composition resembling the alcohols,
but containing sulphur in place of oxygen, and hence called
also the {sulphur alcohols}. In general, they are colorless
liquids having a strong, repulsive, garlic odor. The name is
specifically applied to ethyl mercaptan, {C2H5SH}. So called
from its avidity for mercury, and other metals.
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (27 SEP 03) [foldoc]:
sh
1. {Bourne shell}.
2. The {country code} for St. Helena.
(1999-01-27)
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