quicklime
UK[ˈkwɪklaɪm]US[ˈkwɪklaɪm]
n
a white caustic solid, calcium oxide, obtained by heating limestone and used in making mortar and cement.
Morpheme Breakdown
quick
lime
quick
living, active
lime
calcium material
Etymology
the term "quicklime" is a fascinating fossil of an older english meaning. the word "quick" originates from the old english cwicu, meaning "alive." this sense survives in phrases like "the quick and the dead." when applied to "lime" (calcium oxide), "quick" refers to its highly reactive, vigorous, or "live" chemical properties, especially when it is freshly burned and unslaked. in contrast, "slaked lime" (calcium hydroxide) is the tamed or "killed" product after water is added. thus, the compound literally means "living lime," a vivid descriptor for a substance known for its intense, exothermic reaction with water.
Analysis
Structure: quick (living, active) + lime (calcium material)
quick: from old english cwicu meaning "alive, living, animate." in this compound, it carries the archaic sense of "active, vigorous."
lime: from old english līm meaning "sticky substance, birdlime; mortar, cement," referring to a calcium-containing material.
Examples
the construction workers used quicklime to make the traditional mortar.
handling quicklime requires protective gear due to its caustic nature.
the chemical process involves heating limestone to produce quicklime and carbon dioxide.