Mothball

From Free net encyclopedia

Mothballs are small balls of chemical pesticide and deodorant used when storing clothing and other articles susceptible to damage from mold or moth larvae. They come in two different formulations, one using naphthalene and the other using 1,4-dichlorobenzene as the active ingredient.

Their use when clothing is stored out-of-season gave rise to the colloquial use of the terms mothballed and put into mothballs to refer to anything which is put into storage or whose operation is suspended. The use of the word in this sense derives from naval usage. When warships were laid up, the open ends of their gun barrels and other openings were covered in white material to prevent the entry of water. These white circles suggested mothballs. Template:Chem-stubja:防虫剤 nl:Mottenbal ta:அந்துருண்டை