verjuice

American  

[vur-joos] / ˈvɜrˌdʒus /

noun

1. an acid liquor made from the sour juice of crab apples, unripe grapes, etc., formerly much used for culinary and other purposes.

2. sourness, as of temper or expression.

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adjective

1. of or relating to verjuice.

2. sour in temper, expression, etc.

verjuice British  

/ ˈvɜːˌdʒuːs /

noun

1. 1. the acid juice of unripe grapes, apples, or crab apples, formerly much used in making sauces, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      verjuice sauce

2. rare

   1. sourness or sharpness of temper, looks, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a verjuice old wife

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verb

1. rare (tr) to make sour; embitter

Etymology

Origin of verjuice

1275–1325; Middle English verjuis < Middle French vertjus, equivalent to vert green (< Latin viridis ) + jus juice

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

verjuice

I have used the hard-to-find verjuice instead of lemon, and once included a little honey in the recipe.

From The Guardian ● Oct. 25, 2017

The wild "Scrab," or Crab Apple, armed with thorns, grows in our fields and hedgerows, furnishing verjuice, which is rich in tannin, and a most useful application for old sprains.

From Herbal Simples Approved for Modern Uses of Cure by Fernie, William Thomas

Do so for three days running; on the last day, put in a spoonful of old verjuice or lemon-juice, and a small lump of alum.

From The Lady's Own Cookery Book, and New Dinner-Table Directory; In Which will Be Found a Large Collection of Original Receipts. 3rd ed. by Bury, Charlotte Campbell, Lady

The taste of vinegar is acer, sour; that of verjuice acrior, more sour; the visage of a tee-totaller, acerrimus, sourest, or most sour.

From The Comic Latin Grammar A new and facetious introduction to the Latin tongue by Leech, John

Let your caudle be white-wine, verjuice, some sack and sugar; thicken it with the yolks of eggs, and when the pye is baked, pour it in, and serve it hot.

From Old Cookery Books and Ancient Cuisine by Hazlitt, William Carew