Definition of "quicksilver"

quicksilver

/ˈkwɪkˌsɪlvɚ/

noun
uncountable
1. The metal mercury.
2. (colloquial) An amalgam of mercury and tin applied to the backs of mirrors, quicksilvering.
adjective
not comparable
1. Unpredictable, erratic or fickle; mercurial.
  Quotations
  The idea of a merchant selling both totems of pure evil and frozen yogurt (he calls it frogurt!) is amusing in itself, as is the idea that frogurt could be cursed, but it’s really the Shopkeeper’s quicksilver shift from ominous doomsaying to chipper salesmanship that sells the sequence.
  2012 April 29, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Treehouse of Horror III” (season 4, episode 5; originally aired 10/29/1992)”, in (Please provide the book title or journal name)‎
verb
third-person singular simple present quicksilvers, present participle quicksilvering, simple past and past participle quicksilvered
1. To overlay with quicksilver.
2. To treat with quicksilver.