from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Corrosive \Cor*ro"sive\, n.
1. That which has the quality of eating or wearing away
gradually.
[1913 Webster]
[Corrosives] act either directly, by chemically
destroying the part, or indirectly by causing
inflammation and gangrene. --Dunglison.
[1913 Webster]
2. That which has the power of fretting or irritating.
[1913 Webster]
Such speeches . . . are grievous corrosives.
--Hooker.
-- {Cor*ro"sive*ly}, adv. -- {Cor*ro"sive*ness}, n.
[1913 Webster]