cadmium
UK[ˈkædmiəm]US[ˈkædmiəm]
n
A soft, bluish-white metallic chemical element, used especially in batteries and protective platings.
Etymology
The name cadmium originates from the ancient world's mineralogy. It derives from the Latin 'cadmia', a term for zinc ore, which was borrowed from the Greek 'kadmeia (gē)', literally meaning "Cadmean earth." This name refers to Cadmus, the legendary founder of Thebes in Greek mythology, as the ore was said to be first found near that city. The element itself was discovered in 1817 by German chemists as an impurity in zinc carbonate, and they retained the classical name of the ore for the new metal.
Analysis
The word is a simplex loanword. It is derived from the Latin 'cadmia', which itself came from the Greek 'kadmeia (gē)', meaning "Cadmean earth" (a type of zinc ore).
Examples
Nickel-cadmium batteries were once common in portable electronics.
Cadmium plating provides excellent corrosion resistance to steel components.
Exposure to high levels of cadmium can be toxic to the kidneys and bones.