1. Tending to destroy life; poisonous; noxious; as,
mephitic exhalations;
mephitic regions.
2. Offensive to the scent; as,
mephitic odors.
Mephitic air, carbon dioxide; so called because of its deadly suffocating strength. See Carbonic acid, under Carbonic.
Origin: L. Mephiticus, fr. Mephitis mephitis: cf. F. Mephitique.
Source: Websters Vocabulary