I. ˈvərdəˌgrēs, ˈvə̄d-, ˈvəid-, -ˌgris sometimes -ˌgrē noun
( -es )
Etymology: alteration (influenced by Middle French verdegris, alteration — influenced by gris gray — of Old French verte grez ) of Middle English vertegrez, from Old French verte grez, vert de Grice, literally, green of Greece, from vert green + de of, from (from Latin) + Grice, Grece Greece, from Latin Graecia — more at grizzle , verdant , de- , grecian
1. : a green or greenish blue poisonous pigment obtained by the action of acetic acid on copper and used chiefly in antifouling paints and formerly in medicine: as
a. : a light blue powder or silky blue crystalline product Cu(C 2 H 3 O 2 ) 2 .CuO.6H 2 O — called also blue verdigris
b. : a green product 2Cu(C 2 H 3 O 2 ) 2 .CuO.6H 2 O — called also green verdigris
2. : the poisonous normal copper acetate Cu(C 2 H 3 O 2 ) 2 .H 2 O obtained as a green powder or dark green efflorescent crystals (as by the action of acetic acid on copper oxide [sense b]) and used chiefly in making Paris green — called also crystallized verdigris, neutral verdigris
3. : a green or bluish deposit especially of copper carbonates formed on copper, brass, or bronze surfaces — compare patina 2
4. or verdigris green : a moderate yellowish green that is greener, lighter, and stronger than tarragon or average almond green and paler and slightly greener than malachite green — called also distilled green, Montpellier green, Spanish green, verdet
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-es )
transitive verb
: to cover or coat with verdigris
a rusty lantern or a verdigrised cannonball — Nike Anderson
intransitive verb
: to become spotted or stained with verdigris — used of an insect mounted on a pin