Quick"sil`ver (?), n. [Quick
living + silver; -- so called from its fluidity; cf. G.
quecksilber, L. argentum vivum. See Quick,
a.] (Chem.) The metal mercury; -- so
called from its resemblance to liquid silver.
Quicksilver horizon, a mercurial artificial
horizon. See under Horizon. -- Quicksilver
water, a solution of mercury nitrate used in artificial
silvering; quick water.