verdigris

[prettygoodword]

verdigris (VUR-di-gris, VUR-di-grees) - n., a bluish-green patina formed on exposed copper, brass, or bronze surfaces consisting principally of basic copper sulfate; this color.


If near the sea, the copper on the surface forms a basic copper chloride instead. For the color, see the New York statue of Liberty. In Middle English, it was spelled/pronounced vertegrez, from Anglo-French vere grez < vert-de-Grece, from Old French vert-de-Grèce, green of Greece. It was used as a pigment, but why that was associated in particular with Greece, I'm not finding quickly.

---L.

Comments

[deloric.livejournal.com]

Oh I didn't know there was a word for this besides patina. Thanks

[prettygoodword.livejournal.com]

Some patinas have specific names, but not all.

---L.