Hypertext Webster Gateway: "vinegar"

From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (easton)

Vinegar
Heb. hometz, Gr. oxos, Fr. vin aigre; i.e., "sour wine." The
Hebrew word is rendered vinegar in Ps. 69:21, a prophecy
fulfilled in the history of the crucifixion (Matt. 27:34). This
was the common sour wine (posea) daily made use of by the Roman
soldiers. They gave it to Christ, not in derision, but from
compassion, to assuage his thirst. Prov. 10:26 shows that there
was also a stronger vinegar, which was not fit for drinking. The
comparison, "vinegar upon nitre," probably means "vinegar upon
soda" (as in the marg. of the R.V.), which then effervesces.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Vinegar \Vin"e*gar\, v. t.
To convert into vinegar; to make like vinegar; to render sour
or sharp. [Obs.]

Hoping that he hath vinegared his senses As he was bid.
--B. Jonson.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Vinegar \Vin"e*gar\, n. [OE. vinegre, F. vinaigre; vin wine (L.
vinum) + aigre sour. See {Wine}, and {Eager}, a.]
1. A sour liquid used as a condiment, or as a preservative,
and obtained by the spontaneous (acetous) fermentation, or
by the artificial oxidation, of wine, cider, beer, or the
like.

Note: The characteristic sourness of vinegar is due to acetic
acid, of which it contains from three to five per cent.
Wine vinegar contains also tartaric acid, citric acid,
etc.

2. Hence, anything sour; -- used also metaphorically.

Here's the challenge: . . . I warrant there's
vinegar and pepper in't. --Shak.

{Aromatic vinegar}, strong acetic acid highly flavored with
aromatic substances.

{Mother of vinegar}. See 4th {Mother}.

{Radical vinegar}, acetic acid.

{Thieves' vinegar}. See under {Thief}.

{Vinegar eel} (Zo["o]l.), a minute nematode worm ({Leptodera
oxophila}, or {Anguillula acetiglutinis}), commonly found
in great numbers in vinegar, sour paste, and other
fermenting vegetable substances; -- called also {vinegar
worm}.

{Vinegar lamp} (Chem.), a fanciful name of an apparatus
designed to oxidize alcohol to acetic acid by means of
platinum.

{Vinegar plant}. See 4th {Mother}.

{Vinegar tree} (Bot.), the stag-horn sumac ({Rhus typhina}),
whose acid berries have been used to intensify the
sourness of vinegar.

{Wood vinegar}. See under {Wood}.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

vinegar
n 1: sour-tasting liquid produced usually by oxidation of the
alcohol in wine or cider and used as a condiment or food
preservative [syn: {acetum}]
2: dilute acetic acid

Additional Hypertext Webster Gateway Lookup

dict.stokkie.net

Gateway by dict@stokkie.net
stock only wrote the gateway and does not have any control over the contents; see the Webster Gateway FAQ, and also the Back-end/database links and credits.