Pittacal

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Pittacal \Pit"ta*cal\ (p[i^]t"t[.a]*k[a^]l), n. [Gr. pi`tta,
     pi`ssa, pitch + kalo`s beautiful: cf. F. pittacale.] (Chem.)
     A dark blue substance obtained from wood tar. It consists of
     hydrocarbons which when oxidized form the orange-yellow
     eupittonic compounds, the salts of which are dark blue.
     [1913 Webster]