noun
historical ChemistryThe hypothesis that the atomic weights of chemical elements are integral multiples of the atomic weight of hydrogen.
The hypothesis, which Prout and others interpreted to mean that atoms of heavier elements were built up of atoms of hydrogen (or that they might all be made from common building blocks), is not verified by measurement, although it is approximately correct in many cases.
Origin
Mid 19th century; earliest use found in William A. Miller (1817–1870), chemist. Fromthe genitive of the name of William Prout, English chemist and physician + hypothesis.
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