vitriolum

Forms

vitriolum n (genitive vitriolī); second declension^[1] The DMLBS heads it vitreolum.^[2] Köbler also lists vitriallum.^[3]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin vitreus (“of glass”) + -olum in the DMLBS's analysis;^[2] Etymonline explains it as the neuter of vitriolus, a variant of Late Latin vitreolus (“of glass”), used as a noun.^[4] The adjective is from vitrum (“glass”).^[4][3] The name refers to the glassy look of the salt in some states,^[4] and a medieval herbal glossary already explains it by its glassy clearness.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The earliest uses in the DMLBS are in the Quaestiones Salernitanae, which ask why vitriol, though green, makes ink black, and in medical recipes for ointments.^[2]

Semantic evolution

It was a term of medieval medicine and alchemy for certain glassy mineral salts, and several kinds were distinguished.^[2] A medieval glossary counts it as the nobler kind of attrāmentum, “ink-salt”,^[2] and an Old High German gloss renders it galizienstein.^[3] English took it over in the late 14th century as vitriol, partly through Old French, first for sulphate of iron; the sense “bitter or caustic feelings” followed by 1769.^[4]

Timeline

• c. 353–431 AD – Paulinus of Nola uses the adjective vitreolus, “of glass”.^[5][3]
• 13th century – Old French has vitriol.^[4]
• late 14th century – English borrows it as vitriol.^[4]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) Vitriol, a glassy mineral salt (a sulphate) used in medicine and alchemy.^[2][4][1]

Related words

• English vitriol

References

1. ^ a b Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
4. ^ a b c d e f g Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
5. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press