aqua fortis

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. nitric acid.

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aqua fortis British  

/ ˈfɔːtɪs /

noun

1. an obsolete name for nitric acid

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Etymology

Origin of aqua fortis

1595–1605; < Latin: literally, strong water

Example Sentences

The aqua fortis must not be too strong, or the wood will go brown or black.

From Intarsia and Marquetry by Jackson, F. Hamilton (Frederick Hamilton)

The method is as follows: Dissolve copper filings in aqua fortis.

From Endless Amusement A Collection of Nearly 400 Entertaining Experiments by Unknown

Upon one occasion, while bronzing a piece of rubber cloth, he applied aqua fortis to it for the purpose of removing part of the bronze.

From Inventors by Hubert, Philip Gengembre

Various reagents, including glass-gall, litharge, salt, iron filings, lead, "alkali", talc, argol, saltpetre, sal-ammoniac, alum, vitriol, lime, sulphur, antimony, aqua fortis, or scheidwasser, etc., are made use of.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius

This operation ought to be done with great caution; for though the aqua fortis does not injure the black varnish, it might destroy some of the other colors.

From Museum of Antiquity A Description of Ancient Life by Haines, T. L. (Thomas Louis)