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

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

The vinegar of her temperament was verging upon verjuice, and the ill opinion of mankind experience enforced had written itself very legibly on her features.

From The Martins Of Cro' Martin, Vol. II (of II) by Lever, Charles James

The word occurs often in a sense in which acetum is the best representative, associated with verjuice and vinegar.

From Notes and Queries, Number 73, March 22, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc. by Bell, George

Yet somehow the tiny verjuice drop had been instilled.

From Aletta A Tale of the Boer Invasion by Mitford, Bertram