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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Sulphurous \Sul"phur*ous\, adjective [L. sulphurosus, sulfurosus: cf. F. sulfureux.]
1. Of or pertaining to sulphur.
2. (Chem.) (a) Derived from, or containing, sulphur; specifically, designating those compounds in which the element has a lower valence as contrasted with the sulphuric compounds. (b) Having the characteristic odor of sulphur dioxide, or of hydrogen sulphide, or of other sulphur compounds.
{Sulphurous acid}. (a) Sulphur dioxide. See under {Sulphur}. [Obs.] (b) An acid, {H2SO3}, not known in the free state except as a solution of sulphur dioxide in water, but forming a well-known series of salts (the sulphites).
{Sulphurous anhydride} (Chem.), sulphur dioxide. See under {Sulphur}.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
sulphurous
adjective
1: harsh or corrosive in tone; "an acerbic tone piercing otherwise flowery prose"; "a barrage of acid comments"; "her acrid remarks make her many enemies"; "bitter words"; "blistering criticism"; "caustic jokes about political assassination, talk-show hosts and medical ethics"; "a sulfurous denunciation" [syn: {acerb}, {acerbic}, {acid}, {acrid}, {bitter}, {blistering}, {caustic}, {sulfurous}, {venomous}, {virulent}, {vitriolic}]
2: characterized by oppressive heat and humidity; "the summer was sultry and oppressive"; "the stifling atmosphere"; "the sulfurous atmosphere preceding a thunderstorm" [syn: {sultry}, {stifling}, {sulfurous}]
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