The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Germanium \Ger*ma"ni*um\, n. [NL., fr. L. Germania Germany.]
(Chem.)
A rare element, discovered in 1885 in a silver ore
(argyrodite) at Freiberg. It is a brittle, silver-white
metal, chemically intermediate between the metals and
nonmetals, resembles tin, and is in general identical with
the predicted ekasilicon. Symbol Ge. Atomic number 32.
Atomic weight 72.59. It has excellent semiconductor
properties, and is used in transistors and diodes.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Ekasilicon \Ek`a*sil"i*con\, n. [Skr. [=e]ka one + E. silicon.]
(Chem.)
The name of a hypothetical element predicted by Mendeleev and
afterwards discovered and named germanium; -- so called
because it was a missing analogue of the silicon group. See
Germanium, and cf. Ekabor. Also see periodic table.
[1913 Webster +PJC]