Forms: 4, 7 ceruce, 4, 6 seruse, 6 cereuse, 6–9 cerusse, 7–9 ceruss, (7 cerus), 5– ceruse. [a. F. céruse (Pr. ceruza, Sp. cerusa, It. cerussa), or ad. L. cērussa ceruse, according to Vossius perh. for a possible Gr. κηροῦσσα (contr. f. κηρόεσσα) waxy, f. κηρός wax.]
1. A name for WHITE LEAD, a mixture or compound of carbonate and hydrate of lead (usually 2 Pb CO2 + Pb H2 O2); largely used as a white paint, formerly also in medicine for ointments, etc.
c. 1386. Chaucer, Prol., 630. Boras, Ceruce [v.r. seruse], ne oille of Tartre noon … That hym myghte helpen.
a. 1500. in E. E. Misc. (1855), 72. To temper ceruse.
1585. Lloyd, Treas. Health, F j. Cerusse dropped into thyne eyes taketh away the paine and cleareth the eyes.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. ii. I. i. Galen hath taken exceptions at such waters, which run through leaden pipes … for that unctuous ceruse, which causeth dysenteries and fluxes.
1748. Phil. Trans., XLV. 107. A Phial coated within and without with Ceruse, i.e. the Calx of Lead.
1808. Henry, Epit. Chem., 308. The insolubility of the cerusse in boiling distilled vinegar.
1873. A. W. Williamson, Chem., § 168. Until a thick crust of ceruse is formed over the surface of the lead.
b. esp. as a paint or cosmetic for the skin: often used vaguely.
1519. Horman, Vulg., 169. They whyte theyr face, necke, and pappis with cerusse.
1603. B. Jonson, Sejanus, II. i. ’Tis the sun, Hath given some little taint unto the ceruse: You should have used of the white oil I gave you.
1623. Massinger, Dk. Milan, V. ii. Your ladyship looks pale; But I, your doctor, have a ceruse for you.
1653. Manton, Exp. James i. 23. The artificial cerusse and varnish of the face.
1664. Butler, Hud., II. I. 44/608. Others, make Posies of her Cheeks,… In which the Lilly, and the Rose, For Indian Lake, and Ceruse goes.
1754. Connoisseur, No. 5. At Paris the face of every lady you meet is besmeared with unguent, ceruss, and plaister.
1822. Byron, Juan, XI. xlviii. Youth, ceruse, Against his heart preferr’d their usual claims.
a. 1859. Macaulay, Biog. Johnson, 84. Johnson … whose eye-sight was too weak to distinguish ceruse from natural bloom.
2. The native carbonate of lead; = CERUSSITE.
† 3. Ceruse of antimony: ‘a preparation of the regulus of that mineral, powdered, mixed with spirit of nitre, and distilled in a retort till no more fumes will rise’ (Chambers, Cycl. Supp., 1753).
1692. Boyle, Hist. Air, xxxviii. 233. A Parcel of his own Ceruss of Antimony.
1754. Huxham, in Phil. Trans., XLVIII. 863.
