four thieves' vinegar
Vinegar mixed with camphor and essential oils, formerly used as medicineVinegar mixed with camphor and essential oils, formerly used as medicine.
Meaning
1 senses(UK, archaic, uncountable)Vinegar mixed with camphor and essential oils, formerly used as medicine.
Origin
From the story that thieves, by using it, were enabled to plunder, with impunity to healthFrom the story that thieves, by using it, were enabled to plunder, with impunity to health, in the great plague at London. Possibly originally a corruption of "Forthave's vinegar", Richard Forthave being the publisher of an early recipe.
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Synonyms
6 synonymsMarseilles vinegarprophylactic vinegarvinegar of the four thievesfour thieves' oilthieves' oilthieves' vinegar
Lessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable