oil of vitriol

oil of vitriol
Vitriol Vit"ri*ol, n. [F. vitriol; cf. Pr. vitriol, vetriol, Sp. & Pg. vitriolo, It. vitriuolo; fr. L. vitreolus of glass, vitreus vitreous. See {Vitreous}.] (Chem.) (a) A sulphate of any one of certain metals, as copper, iron, zinc, cobalt. So called on account of the glassy appearance or luster. (b) Sulphuric acid; -- called also {oil of vitriol}. So called because first made by the distillation of green vitriol. See {Sulphuric acid}, under {Sulphuric}. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]

{Blue vitriol}. See under {Blue}.

{Green vitriol}, ferrous sulphate; copperas. See under {Green}.

{Oil of vitriol}, sulphuric or vitriolic acid; -- popularly so called because it has the consistency of oil.

{Red vitriol}, a native sulphate of cobalt.

{Vitriol of Mars}, ferric sulphate, a white crystalline substance which dissolves in water, forming a red solution.

{White vitriol}, zinc sulphate, a white crystalline substance used in medicine and in dyeing. It is usually obtained by dissolving zinc in sulphuric acid, or by roasting and oxidizing certain zinc ores. Formerly called also {vitriol of zinc}. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Oil of vitriol — Vitriol Vit ri*ol, n. [F. vitriol; cf. Pr. vitriol, vetriol, Sp. & Pg. vitriolo, It. vitriuolo; fr. L. vitreolus of glass, vitreus vitreous. See {Vitreous}.] (Chem.) (a) A sulphate of any one of certain metals, as copper, iron, zinc, cobalt. So… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Oil of vitriol — Oil Oil (oil), n. [OE. oile, OF. oile, F. huile, fr. L. oleum; akin to Gr. ?. Cf. {Olive}.] Any one of a great variety of unctuous combustible substances, more viscous than and not miscible with water; as, olive oil, whale oil, rock oil, etc.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • oil of vitriol — n. [so called because green vitriol was its source] SULFURIC ACID …   English World dictionary

  • oil of vitriol — Sulphuric Sul*phu ric, a. [Cf. F. sulfurique.] 1. Of or pertaining to sulphur; as, a sulphuric smell. [1913 Webster] 2. (Chem.) Derived from, or containing, sulphur; specifically, designating those compounds in which the element has a higher… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • oil of vitriol — SYN: sulfuric acid. * * * oil of vitriol n concentrated sulfuric acid …   Medical dictionary

  • oil of vitriol — oil′ of vit′riol n. chem. sulfuric acid • Etymology: 1570–80 …   From formal English to slang

  • oil of vitriol — noun (H2SO4) a highly corrosive acid made from sulfur dioxide; widely used in the chemical industry • Syn: ↑vitriol, ↑sulfuric acid, ↑sulphuric acid • Derivationally related forms: ↑vitriolic (for: ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • oil of vitriol — noun Sulphuric acid. Syn: vitriol …   Wiktionary

  • oil of vitriol — Date: 1580 concentrated sulfuric acid …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • oil of vitriol — Chem. See sulfuric acid. [1570 80] * * * …   Universalium

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