from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Vitriol \Vit"ri*ol\, 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]