verdigris

[vur-di-grees, -gris]

noun

1. a green or bluish patina formed on copper, brass, or bronze surfaces exposed to the atmosphere for long periods of time, consisting principally of basic copper sulfate.

verdigris

/ ˈvɜːdɪɡrɪs /

noun

1. a green or bluish patina formed on copper, brass, or bronze and consisting of a basic salt of copper containing both copper oxide and a copper salt

2. a green or blue crystalline substance obtained by the action of acetic acid on copper and used as a fungicide and pigment; basic copper acetate

Other Word Forms

• verdigrisy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of verdigris¹

1250–1300; < Middle French vert de gris; replacing Middle English vertegrez < Anglo-French vert de Grece, Old French vere grez green of Greece

Word History and Origins

Origin of verdigris¹

C14: from Old French vert de Grice green of Greece

Related Words

• blue-green 
• olive