Black's student Daniel Rutherford called this gas mephitic air instead: mephitis is a noxious emission in legend, thought to emanate from the earth and cause pestilence.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from late Latin.
Definition of mephitis in US English:
mephitis
nounməˈfīdəsməˈfaɪdəs
archaic
A noxious or foul-smelling gas or vapour.
Example sentencesExamples
Black's student Daniel Rutherford called this gas mephitic air instead: mephitis is a noxious emission in legend, thought to emanate from the earth and cause pestilence.