a. and sb. Also 7–8 vitriolick, 7 -ike, -iq(ue. [ad. F. vitriolique (16th c., = It., Sp., Pg. vitriolico), or f. VITRIOL sb. + -IC.]
A. adj. 1. Of or belonging to vitriol; having the nature or qualities of vitriol; impregnated with vitriol.
1670. W. Simpson, Hydrol. Ess., 62. The solution of the vitriol marcasite … precipitates the same vitriolick oaker.
1676. Grew, Anat. Pl., Exper. Luctation, ii. § 4. Irish Slat … seems to be nothing else but a Vitriolick Bole.
1707. Floyer, Physic. Pulse-Watch, 257. In the Quartans, the … Pain is from the vitriolic Cacochymia.
1760. Phil. Trans., LI. 470. It is of a subacid taste, and very nauseously vitriolic.
1774. Goldsm., Nat. Hist. (1862), I. xi. 215. A mucous substance, which had something of a vitriolic quality, settled under the reticular membrane.
1802. Playfair, Illustr. Hutton. Th., 33. This compound of metal and sulphur … is destroyed by the contact of moisture and resolved into a vitriolic salt.
1844. Civil Eng. & Arch. Jrnl., VII. 108/1. If the pit water be vitriolic … it becomes necessary to use every means to procure better water.
1899. F. T. Bullen, Log Sea-waif, 49. A fiery white spirit, fresh from the still…. This vitriolic stuff seemed to meet every emergency.
b. Vitriolic acid, oil of vitriol.
1747. Wall, in Phil. Trans., XLIV. Suppl. 588. I acidulated the Liquors with the vitriolic Acid.
1778. W. Pryce, Min. Cornub., 54. It entirely resists the vitriolick acid, which dissolves or corrodes every other known metallick body, except Gold.
1802. Mar. Edgeworth, Moral T., Forrester, Bank-notes. The large bottle of vitriolic acid was broken.
1842. Orderson, Creol., xiii. 137. The gas was generated from steel filings and vitriolic acid.
2. fig. Of language, persons, etc.: Extremely sharp, caustic or scathing; bitterly ill-natured or malignant.
1836. Sydney Herald, 8 Dec., 2/2. For the information of the vitriolic gentlemen,… they are liable to be indicted before the Supreme Court for an assault with intent to do some bodily harm.
1841. H. F. Chorley, Music & Mann., III. 31. Venting a flood of vitriolic sarcasm, or a flight of high-toned poetry.
1866. E. P. Whipple, Characters & Charac. Men, 5. Robespierre … [and] Frederick of Prussia … were both bitter and vitriolic natures.
1879. McCarthy, Hist. own Times, II. 197. He never became more than a great Parliamentary critic of the acrid and vitriolic style.
1903. Coleman, C. Reade, III. v. (1904), 324. For vitriolic vigour this epistle excels anything in the language.
B. sb. A vitriolic substance. Obs.–1
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 7 Nov. 1651. It had a taste of a strong vitrioliq, and smelt like aqua fortis.
