MERCURY

noun (plural -ries) Etymology: Latin Mercurius, Roman god and the planet Date: 14th century 1. a Roman god of commerce, eloquence, travel, cunning, and theft who serves as messenger to the other gods, a bearer of messages or news or a conductor of travelers, 2. \Middle English mercurie, from Medieval Latin mercurius, from Latin, the god] a silver-white poisonous heavy metallic element that is liquid at ordinary temperatures and is used especially in batteries, in dental amalgam, and in scientific instruments, the column of ~ in a thermometer or barometer, the planet nearest the sun