drying oil

American  

noun

1. any of a group of oily, organic liquids occurring naturally, as linseed, soybean, or dehydrated castor oil, or synthesized, that when applied as a thin coating absorb atmospheric oxygen, forming a tough, elastic layer.

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drying oil British  

noun

1. one of a number of animal or vegetable oils, such as linseed oil, that harden by oxidation on exposure to air: used as a base for some paints and varnishes

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Etymology

Origin of drying oil

First recorded in 1860–65

Example Sentences

Father Nieuwland shook his head, decided it might be good for drying oil or possibly sheep dip.

From Time Magazine Archive

Materials required are a palette, palette-knife, flat varnish brush, three sizes of bristle brushes, three sizes of table brushes, drying oil, mastic varnish, spirits of turpentine, Grecian varnish.

From Young's Demonstrative Translation of Scientific Secrets by Young, Daniel

When pressed, they yield largely of pure palatable oil, as a drying oil for paint, and known as artists' oil.

From Catalogue of Economic Plants in the Collection of the U. S. Department of Agriculture by Saunders, William

From the trials made it appears that it cannot be used as a drying oil, but will probably answer best as a substitute for rape oil.

From The Commercial Products of the Vegetable Kingdom Considered in Their Various Uses to Man and in Their Relation to the Arts and Manufactures; Forming a Practical Treatise & Handbook of Reference for the Colonist, Manufacturer, Merchant, and Consumer, on the Cultivation, Preparation for Shipment, and Commercial Value, &c. of the Various Substances Obtained From Trees and Plants, Entering into the Husbandry of Tropical and Sub-tropical Regions, &c. by Simmonds, P. L.

It contains large quantities of stearin and has a low iodine value, making it a slow drying oil.

From Paint Technology and Tests by Gardner, Henry A.