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oil of vitriol

noun

Chemistry.
  1. sulfuric acid.



oil of vitriol

noun

  1. another name for sulphuric acid

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Word History and Origins

Origin of oil of vitriol1

First recorded in 1570–80
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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“You carried oil of vitriol knocking about in a sack? It is infinitely dangerous, my boy.”

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Medieval alchemists called sulfuric acid “the oil of vitriol.”

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A. The action of iron or zinc scraps on diluted oil of vitriol is among the best.

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Ink spots can be removed by scouring them with sand, wet with water that has a few drops of oil of vitriol in it.

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Whether we believe or not that a piece of clean iron immersed in a mixture of oil of vitriol and water, evolves hydrogen gas, the fact itself remains unaltered.

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