Chem. [a. mod.L. lithia, altered from LITHION, after soda, potassa. Cf. LITHINA.] The oxide of lithium, LiO.
1818. Jrnl. Sci. & Arts, V. 337. Lithia (the name given to the new alkali) was first found in the petalite.
1819. [see LITHIUM].
1826. Henry, Elem. Chem., I. 573. The acetate of lithia … was converted by calcination into carbonate of lithia.
1875. H. C. Wood, Therap. (1879), 497. Lithia … closely resembles potash in its effects upon the system.
b. attrib. and Comb., as lithia salt, water; lithia-emerald (see HIDDENITE); lithia-mica = LEPIDOLITE; lithia-tourmaline = RUBELLITE.
1854–68. Dana, Min. (ed. 5), 314. Lepidolite … *Lithia-mica.
1879. Rutley, Study Rocks, xii. 211. Greisen is a granular-crystalline rock, consisting of quartz and mica, the latter usually lithia-mica.
1842. Parnell, Chem. Anal. (1845). 50. A *lithia salt.
1878. Kingzett, Anim. Chem., 201. *Lithia water is often prescribed to gouty … persons.
c. colloq. Short for lithia water.
1893. Saltus, Madam Sapphira, 21. Mr. Snaith … refreshed himself with whisky and lithia.
