vitriol

noun, verb — 6 senses

vitriol

noun

US /ˈvɪtɹiəl/ · CA /ˈvɪtɹiɒl/

Etymology From Middle English vitriol, from Old French vitriol, from Medieval Latin vitriolum (“sulfuric acid”), from vitrum (“glass”).

1

Dated Any of various metal sulphates.

  • CRYSTALS of Venus or of copper, called also vitriol of Venus, is copper reduced into the form of vitriol by spirit of nitre, or by dissolving verdegris in good distilled vinegar, till the acid be saturated; it is very caustic and used to eat off proud flesh. It is also used by painters, and manufacturers, and sold under the name of distilled vinegar. See CHEMISTRY.1807, A New and Complete Encyclopaedia; or, Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences: Vol III, page 48:
  • The association of the heavenly bodies with known metals and also with human organs and destinies goes back to ancient Chaldea, the land of astrologers. In Chaucer’s words: ‘The seven bodies eek, lo hear anon. Sol gold is, and Luna silver we declare; Mars yron, Mercurie is quyksilver; Saturnian leed; and Jubitur is tyn, and Venus coper, by my fathers kyn.’ […] Corresponding names were bestowed upon salts of these metals by the alchemists, and some of them have persisted down to the present day. Some examples are lunar caustic (silver nitrate); vitriol of Venus (copper sulphate); sugar of Saturn (lead acetate); and vitriol of Mars, or Martial vitriol (ferrous sulphate).2013, John Read, From Alchemy to Chemistry:
2

Dated oil of vitriol (sulfuric acid).

3

Broadly Bitterly abusive language.

  • For days, online forums sparked with outrage against politicians and race organizers, a tone that turned to vitriol against runners, even from some shaming other runners for being selfish.2012 November 2, Ken Belson, New York Times, retrieved 02 Nov 2012:
Derived terms
blue vitriol, copper vitriol, elixir of vitriol, green vitriol, hurl vitriol, iron vitriol, oil of vitriol, red vitriol, Roman vitriol, salt of vitriol, spirit of vitriol, vitriolage, vitriolate, vitriol attack, vitriolic, vitriolize, vitriol of Mars, white vitriol
Related terms
vitreous

vitriol

verb

Etymology From Middle English vitriol, from Old French vitriol, from Medieval Latin vitriolum (“sulfuric acid”), from vitrum (“glass”).

1

To subject to bitter verbal abuse.

2

Engineering, Metallurgy, Natural sciences, Physical sciences To dip in dilute sulfuric acid; to pickle.

3

Colloquial To vitriolize.

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.

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