Noah Webster
Phosphorus
PHOS'PHORUS
PHOS'PHOR, noun [Latin from the Greek. See Phosphor.]
1. The morning star.
2. phosphorus in chimistry, a combustible substance, hitherto undecomposed. It is of a yellowish color and semi-transparent, resembling fine wax. It burns in common air with great rapidity; and in oxygen gas, with the greatest vehemence. Even at the common temperature, it combines with oxygen, undergoing a slow combustion and emitting a luminous vapor. It is originally obtained from urine; but it is now manufactured from bones, which consist of phosphate of lime.