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.

---

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

---

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

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

Under this general head some other liquors are included,—cider, perry, and mead, as well as vinegar and verjuice; but these are of very trifling consideration.

From The Works of the Right Honourable Edmund Burke, Vol. 05 (of 12) by Burke, Edmund

But the other, who came forward into the room, was tall, spare, upright, and angular, with a face which struck Clarice as looking very like verjuice.

From A Forgotten Hero Not for Him by Holt, Emily Sarah

No, Howard wasn't the sort that hankered for verjuice.

From Slippy McGee, Sometimes Known as the Butterfly Man by Oemler, Marie Conway

Goose must be eaten with green garlic or verjuice.

From Early English Meals and Manners by Furnivall, Frederick James