n. [ F. vitriol; cf. Pr. vitriol, vetriol, Sp. & Pg. vitriolo, It. vitriuolo; fr. L. vitreolus of glass, vitreus vitreous. See Vitreous. ] (Chem.) (a) A sulphate of any one of certain metals, as copper, iron, zinc, cobalt. So called on account of the glassy appearance or luster. (b) Sulphuric acid; -- called also oil of vitriol. So called because first made by the distillation of green vitriol. See Sulphuric acid, under Sulphuric. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Blue vitriol. See under Blue. --
Green vitriol, ferrous sulphate; copperas. See under Green. --
Oil of vitriol, sulphuric or vitriolic acid; -- popularly so called because it has the consistency of oil. --
Red vitriol, a native sulphate of cobalt. --
Vitriol of Mars, ferric sulphate, a white crystalline substance which dissolves in water, forming a red solution. --
White vitriol, zinc sulphate, a white crystalline substance used in medicine and in dyeing. It is usually obtained by dissolving zinc in sulphuric acid, or by roasting and oxidizing certain zinc ores. Formerly called also vitriol of zinc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. -oled r -olled; p. pr. & vb. n. -oling or -olling. ] [ From Vitriol, n. ] 1. (Metal.) To dip in dilute sulphuric acid; to pickle. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. To vitriolize. [ Colloq. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Vitriolated. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Old Chem.) A sulphate. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Vitriolated p. pr. & vb. n. Vitriolating. ] (Old Chem.) (a) To convert into, or change to, a vitriol; to make into sulphuric acid or a sulphate. (b) To subject to the action of, or impregnate with, vitriol. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Old Chem.) Changed into a vitriol or a sulphate, or subjected to the action of sulphuric acid or of a sulphate; as, vitriolated potash, i. e., potassium sulphate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Old Chem.) The act, process, or result of vitriolating. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. vitriolique. ] 1. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to vitriol; derived from, or resembling, vitriol; vitriolous; as, a vitriolic taste. Cf. Vitriol. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Biting, bitter or caustic; having or expressing strong and unpleasantly negative feelings; -- of speech or feelings; the vitriolic denunciations of opponents by partisan columnists. [ PJC ]

Vitriolic acid (Old Chem.), (a) sulphuric acid. See Vitriol (b). [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Capable of being converted into a vitriol. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. vitriolisation. ] (Old Chem.) The act of vitriolizing, or the state of being vitriolized; vitriolation. [ 1913 Webster ]