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vitriol

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vit⋅ri⋅ol

  [vi-tree-uhl] noun, verb, -oled, -ol⋅ing or (especially British) -olled, -ol⋅ling.
Use vitriol in a Sentence
–noun
1. Chemistry. any of certain metallic sulfates of glassy appearance, as copper sulfate or blue vitriol, iron sulfate or green vitriol, zinc sulfate or white vitriol, etc.
2. oil of vitriol; sulfuric acid.
3. something highly caustic or severe in effect, as criticism.
–verb (used with object)
4. to treat with or as with vitriol, esp. sulfuric acid.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME < ML vitriolum, vitreolum, equiv. to L vitre(us) vitreous + -olum, neut. of -olus -ole 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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sulfuric acid  
n.  A highly corrosive, dense, oily liquid, H2SO4, colorless to dark brown depending on its purity and used to manufacture a wide variety of chemicals and materials including fertilizers, paints, detergents, and explosives. Also called oil of vitriol, vitriol.
vit·ri·ol   (vĭt'rē-ōl', -əl)   
n.  

    1. See sulfuric acid.

    2. Any of various sulfates of metals, such as ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, or copper sulfate.

  2. Bitterly abusive feeling or expression.

tr.v.   vit·ri·oled or vit·ri·olled, vit·ri·ol·ing or vit·ri·ol·ling, vit·ri·ols
To expose or subject to vitriol.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin vitriolum, from Late Latin vitreolum, neuter of vitreolus, of glass, from Latin vitreus; see vitreous.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

vitriol 
c.1386, "sulphate of iron," from O.Fr. vitriol (13c.), from M.L. vitriolum "vitriol," from neut. of vitriolus, from L.L. vitreolus "of glass," from L. vitreus "of glass, glassy," from vitrium "glass" (see vitreous). So called from its glassy appearance in certain states. Meaning "bitter or caustic feelings" first attested 1769, in allusion to the corrosive properties of vitriol.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: vit·ri·ol
Pronunciation: 'vi-trE-&l
Function: noun
1 : a sulfate of any of various metals (as copper, iron, or zinc)
2 : OIL OF VITRIOL
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

vitriol vit·ri·ol (vĭt'rē-ōl', -əl)
n.

  1. Any of various sulfates of metals, such as ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, or copper sulfate.

  2. See sulfuric acid.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
vitriol   (vĭt'rē-ōl', -əl)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. A former name for sulfuric acid.

  2. Any of various sulfates of metals, such as ferrous sulfate (green vitriol), zinc sulfate, or copper sulfate (blue vitriol). See also blue vitriol.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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