-ˌtan noun
( -s )
Etymology: German, from Danish, from Medieval Latin mercurium captans, literally, seizing mercury
: any of a class of compounds with the general formula RSH that are analogous to the alcohols and phenols but contain sulfur in place of oxygen and that in the case of those of low molecular weight have very disagreeable odors ; especially : ethyl mercaptan — called also thiol ; compare hydrosulfide , thioalcohol , thiophenol