oil 
sonal consecration to God's service. See the phrase holy 
oil, below. For the use of oil iu storms at sea, see oil-dis- 
tributer. 
With an Instrument of Sylver, he frotethe the Bones; 
and thanne ther gothe out a lytylle Oyle, as thoughe it 
were a rnaner swetynge, that is nouther lyche to Oyle ne 
to Bawme ; but it is f ulle swete of smelle. 
MandevUle, Travels, p. 60. 
Here first she bathes, and round her body pours 
Soft otis of fragrance, and ambrosial show rs. 
Pope, Iliad, xiv. 198. 
Specifically 2. Oil as used for burning in a 
lamp, to afford light : as, to burn the midnight 
oil (alluding to nocturnal study). 
In reason whereof, I am perswaded that none of indif- 
ferent judgments shall think his oyle and labour lost. 
Touchstone of Complexions, Pref., p. vii. (Dames.) 
A cut Of oil, the quantity of oil from one cutting in that 
is, yielded by one whale. Andiroba-oil. Same as camp- 
ail. See Corapa, 1. Aniline Oil. See aniline. Animal 
Oil, a fetid, pungent, and nauseous oil, obtained chiefly by 
the dry distillation of bones in the manufacture of bone- 
black. When rectified it is known as Dippel's oil (which 
see). Anthracene Oil. Same as green grease (which see, 
under Braise). Arachis-oiL See Araehis. Argan-oil. 
See argan-tree. Balm-oil. Same as melissa-oil. Bank 
Oil See tonii. Banks oil. See cod-liver oil, under cod- 
liver. Basil-Oil. Seebasili. Bassia oil SeeBasstaand 
blubber: distinguished from head-oil. Boiled Oil, a dry- 
ing-oil made by boiling a small quantity of litharge in lin- 
seed-oil till it is dissolved. Bottlenose oil. See bottle- 
nose. Brick-oil, in old phar., linseed-oil into which red- 
hot roughly powdered brick had been stirred. British 
Oil, a rubefacient liniment composed of oil of turpentine, 
linseed-oil, oil of amber, oil of j uniper, Barbados petroleum, 
and crude petroleum. Camphorated oil, camphor lini- 
ment. Camphor-wood oil. Same as camphor-oil, 2. 
Cananga-oil. Same as ylang-ylang oil. Cardamom-oil, 
an aromatic volatile oil from the ordinary cardamom ; also, 
a fixed oil from the same plant Cedar-oil, (a) A vola- 
tile oil from the wood of the red cedar, Juniperus Virgi- 
niana, used in scenting soap, and in medicine as a substitute 
for savin-oil. (6) An oil of indiiferent scent from the Leb- 
anon cedar. Cevadilla-oil, a fixed oil from ceyadilla- 
seeds. See cevadilla. Chabert's oil, a preparation ob- 
tained from impure empyreumatic oil and oil of turpentine 
by distillation, formerly used as a trenicide. Chaulmu- 
gra-oil, an East Indian medicinal oil, which has recently 
come into Western practice, expressed from the seeds con- 
tained in the pulpy fruit of Gynocardia odorata. It is used 
for elephantiasis, etc. Also chaulmoogra-oil. Cherry-oil, 
an oil extractedfrom the stonesof the American black cher- 
ry, Prunus serotina. Chinese oil of peppermint, men- 
thol, or oil of peppermint with an excess of menthol. 
Chironji-oil, a sweet wholesome oil from the nut-kernels 
of an East Indian forest-tree, Buchanania latifolia, of the 
Anamrdiacece. Citron-Oil, a fragrant volatile oil from 
the fruit-rind and leaves of the citron, Citrus medica. Also 
called cedrate essence or oil. Clock-oil. Same as vatch- 
oil or porpoise-oil. Cod-liver oil. See cod-liver. Co- 
hune-oil, a fixed oil from the kernels of the cohune-palm, 
Attalea Cohune. Concrete oil of wine. Same as etherin. 
Copaiba-oil, a volatile oil extracted from the copaiba 
balsam. Coquito-oil, a fixed oil said to be obtained from 
the fruit of a palm, Elceis melanococca, which abounds in 
parts of Mexico not,however, the coquito-palm. It makes 
a fine quality of soap. Cotton-seed OU. See cotton- 
seed. Coumu-Oil, a fixed oil from one or more species 
of (Enocarpus, including the bacaba-palm (which see). 
Cucumber-oil. See cucumber. Cuscus- oil , fragrant 
attar from the cuscus-grass. Dead-oil, the heavy oil of 
from J. C. Dippel, who first prepared it in 1711. Dog- 
wqod-oil, oil obtained from the berries of Cornus san- 
guinea in parts of Europe and Asia : useful in lamps and 
for soap, and, when properly prepared, edible. Domba- 
oiL See domba and Calophyllwn. Empyreumatic es- 
sential, ethereal oil. See the adjectives. Eulachon- 
olL See eulachon. Expressed oils. See express. fir- 
wool oil. See fir-wool. Fixed oils. Seeded. Flor- 
ence oil, a superior kind of olive-oil prepared in Florence, 
and exported in Florence flasks (see flask). Oallipoli 
Oil, a kind of olive-oil, used in turkey-red dyeing, produced 
at Gallipoli by throwing the berries as soon as gathered 
into heaps, and allowing them to ferment before extract- 
Ing the oil. This fermentation liberated free oleic acid, 
with which was formed an emulsion with alkaline carbo- 
nates, through which the fabric was passed. It is now 
usually replaced by Turkey-red oil (which see). Gaulthe- 
ria-OlL Same as mntergreen-oil. Gingili-oil. Same 
as oil of sesamum. Grape-seed oil, an oil obtained from 
the seeds of the common grape. It has been used in Eu- 
rope for over a century, is valuable for illuminating, and 
little inferior to olive-oil for culinary purposes. Ground- 
nut oil, arachis-oil. Heavy oil. Same as dead-oil. 
Heavy oil of wine. Same as ethereal oil (a). Holy oil. 
(a) In the primitive church, and still in the Roman Catho- 
lic and Greek churches, oil blessed for ritual use. There 
are three separate kinds, used for different purposes ; (1) 
Oil of catechumens, oil used to anoint candidates before 
baptism. (>) Oil of chrism, oil mixed with balsam, or with 
wine and aromatics, used at baptism, confirmation, corona- 
tion of sovereigns, etc.: also called chrism. (3) Oil of the 
sink, oil used at the unction of the sick. See euchelaion 
and unction, (b) Especially, in the Greek Church, oil which 
has been in contact with a relic or other sacred object or 
has been taken from a church lamp. niupi-oil. See Ulu- 
pt. Iodized Oil, a combination of iodine with almond-oil. 
Jatrqpha-oil, oil expressed from Barbados nuts. Ke- 
kune-oil,oil expressed from the fruit of Alev.rti.es Mohic- 
cana. Laurel-oil, both a fixed and an essential oil yielded 
by the berries of the true laurel. For the former, see bay -ail. 
Lemon-grass oiL See lemon-grass. Light oil Same 
as coal-tar naphtha (which see, under naphtha). Light 
Oil Of Wine, etherol: a yellowish oily aromatic liquid ob- 
4096 
tained from the heavy oil of wine by the action of water. 
London Oil, rosin-oil. It is a product of the distillation 
of turpentine, and conies over after the lighter spirits or 
oil of turpentine. It is used as an adulterant for sicca- 
tive oils, as linseed-oil, by manufacturers of mixed paints, 
etc. Also called kidney-oil. Macassar oil, a fixed oil 
originally from the berries of Stadmannia Sideroxylon, a 
large tree of Mauritius : but the macassar oil of the mar- 
ket is said to consist chiefly of cocoanut- or safflower-oil. 
Malabar oil, an oil obtained from the livers of various 
fishes, as sharks and rays, found on the coasts of Malabar 
and Kurrachee, India. Marking-nut oil. See markimj- 
nu*. Matico-Oil, volatile oil from Piper angusttfolium. 
See matteoi. Midnight oiL See def. 1. Mineral oil. 
See def. 1. Mirbane oil, nitrobenzene (C 6 H5NO2 + 
H 2 0), formed by treating benzene with nitric acid. It has 
a smell resembling oil of bitter almonds, and is sometimes 
used in perfumery. Myrrh-oil, a volatile oil obtained 
from the myrrh-tree, Commiphora Myrrha. Nagkassar- 
oil. See Mesua. Neat's-foot oil See neati.Oil of 
amber. See amber?. Oil of anda. See Joannesia. 
Oil Of angelst, money used as an alleviative or motive; 
a gift ; a bribe : in allusion to the coin called angel. [Hu- 
morous.] 
My Mother pampered me so long, and secretly helped 
mee to the oyle of Angels, that I grew thereby prone to 
all mischiefs. 
Greene, Repentance of Robert Greene, sig. C. 
Oil of anise. See anise. Oil of asafetida, a volatile oil 
of an exceedingly offensive odor distilled from asafetida. 
Oil Of baston, a basting or beating. [Humorous. ] Oil of 
bay. (a) Same as bay-oil, (b) Oil of myreia. Oil Of ben. 
Same as ben-oil. Oil Of bergamot. See beryamot. Oil 
Of birch, (a) An empyreumatic oil distilled from the bark 
of Betula alba. It gives Russian leather its peculiar odor. 
(6) Punishment with a birchen switch ; a beating. [Humor- 
ous.] Oil of cade. Same as cade-oil. Oil of cajeput. 
See cajeput. Oil of camomile, a volatile oil with a 
warm aromatic taste, distilled from the flowers of Anthe- 
mis nobilis.on of caraway, carrot, cinnamon, 
cloves. See caraway, etc. Oil of Chinese cinnamon, 
oil of cassia. Oil of copaiba, a volatile oil distilled from, 
and with the odor and taste of, copaiba. Oil of corian- 
der, a volatile oil with a mild and agreeable aromatic taste 
and odor, distilled from the fruit of Coriandrum satimtm. 
Oil Of cubebs, a volatile oil with a warm aromatic 
camphoraceous taste, distilled from the fruit of Piper 
Citbeba. Qil of cumin, dill, erigeron, eucalyptus. 
See cumin, etc. OU Of ergot, a medicinal volatile oil 
extracted from ergot of rye. Oil Of fennel, a volatile oil 
of an agreeable odor and sweetish aromatic taste, distilled 
from the fruit of Fceniculum vulgare. Its use is similar 
to that of oil of anise. Oil of geranium. See Andropo- 
gon and ginger-grass. Oil of hedeoma, an oil obtained 
from the fresh herb of Hedeoma p\tlegeoides, peculiar to 
North America. It is analogous in its properties to the oil 
of the European pennyroyal, though derived from a dis- 
tinct plant. Also called oil of pennyroyal. OH of holly, 
a switching with a holly stick ; a beating. [Humorous.] 
Oil of Juniper, an oil distilled from juniper-berries. It 
has a taste and odor much like those of turpentine, with 
which it is often adulterated. It is an efficient ingredient 
oil-box 
from the seed of Theobroma Cacao, the chocolate-nut. It 
is a yellowish-white solid, with an agreeable odor and 
chocolate-like taste. It is used chiefly as an ingredient 
in cosmetics and suppositories. Also called cacao-butter. 
Oil Of thyme, a volatile oil with a strong odor of 
thyme, distilled from the flowering plants of Thymus mil- 
aaris. It is used chiefly for its antiseptic properties. 
Oil of tobacco, a tar-like poisonous liquid resulting from 
dry distillation of tobacco. Oil Of turpentine. See tur- 
pentine. Oil of valerian, a volatile oil obtained from the 
root of Valeriana oj/icinalis.Oil of vitriol, sulphuric 
acid. Oil Of Wheat, a fixed oil expressed from wheat. 
Oil of wormseed, a volatile oil distilled from the fruit of 
Chenopodium anthelmintieum, used almost exclusively as 
an anthelmintic. Old oil, among watchmakers, olive-oil 
after it has been purified and rendered limpid. Ompha- 
cine oil. See omphanne. Phosphorated oil. a solution 
of phosphorus in oil of almonds. Poppy-seed oil, a yel- 
lowish pleasant-tasting oil extracted from the seeds of 
Papaver somniferum. It is used as a substitute for or an 
adulterant of olive-oil. Portia-nut Oil, a thick deep-red 
oil yielded by the seeds of Thespesia populiiea. Potato- 
spirit oil, amyl alcohol. Pressed oil, oil of the gram- 
pus, Grampus griseus : a trade-name. Provence oil. an 
esteemed kind of olive-oil produced in Aix. Eape-oll, a 
bland oil expressed from the seeds of Braxxica campestris, 
var. Bapa. Raw oil, commonly, raw linseed -oil, in dis- 
tinction from boiled linseed-oil. Red oil, a preparation 
made by macerating the tops of Hypericum perforatum in 
olive-oil. Seed-oil, one of various oils, including those 
from til-seed, poppy-seed, and the physic-nut. Sirin- 
ga-oil, a fixed oil yielded by the seeds of Hevea Brasi- 
Yiensis, useful for hard soaps and printing-ink. Siri-oil. 
Same as lemon-grass oil. Spanish walnut oil, oil of 
Aleurites Atoluccana. Straits oil, fish-oil pressed from 
the carcasses of menhaden : formerly a name given to pure 
cod-liver oil mamifactured from the livers of fish caught in 
the straits between Newfoundland and Labi ador, whence 
the name, now transferred to the coarser product obtained 
from the menhaden. Sweet-bay OiL the volatile laurel- 
oil. Teel-Oil. See oil ofsesamum. To pour oil on the 
fire. Secure. To strike oil, to discover petroleum by 
boring ; hence (in allusion to the sudden fortunes made 
in the first years after the discovery of petroleum in Penn- 
sylvaniaX to come upon something very profitable. [Col- 
loq.] Tucum oil, an oil obtained from the fruit of As- 
trocaryum vulgare. Virgin Oil. See aim-oil. Volatile 
OiL See volatile. Wood-oil, an oleoresin obtained from 
the trunk of Dipterocarpus turbinatus. Also called gurjun 
balsam. Ylang-ylang oil, a fragrant volatile oil distilled 
from the flowers of Cananga, odorata. Also called Cananga- 
oil. (See also ben-oil, bone-oil, castor-oil, kundah-oil, linseed- 
oil, lubricating -oil, nutmeg-oil, palm-oil, porpoise-oil, ray- 
oil, rock-oil, shark-oil, sperm-oil, train-oil, tung-oil.) 
Oil (oil), v. t. [< ME. oilen, oylen, < OF. oilier = 
F. huiler = It. ogliare, < ML. *oleare, oil, < L. 
oleum, oil: see oil, n. Cf. anoil, anea$.] 1. To 
smear or rub over with oil ; prepare for use by 
the application of oil: as, to oil a rag; oiled 
paper or silk. 2. To anoint with oil. 3. To 
render smooth by the applioation of oil ; lu- 
of diuretic mixtures, especially in the form of Holland gin. bricate: as, to oil machinery ; hence, figura- 
It is to be distinguished from the oil of juniper-wood, or 4-,- V pl v to vender nilv and bland make smooth 
cade-oil.- Oil of lavender, ledum, lemons. Seelaven- tively, to 
d-2, etc. Oil Of lilies, a fragrant infusion of the flowei* and pleasing. 
of LUium candidum iu oil. Oil Of mace. See nutmeg- 
butter. Oil Of massoy, a volatile oil obtained from the 
bark of Cinnamomum Burmanni, yar. Kiamis, of Java. 
Oil of mustard. Seemustard. Oil of myreia. See wad 
clove, under clove*. Oil Of myrtle, a volatile oil obtained 
from the leaves of Myrtus communis. Oil Of neroli. 
Same as oil of orange-Jlowers. Oil of nutmegs. See 
nutmeg-butter. Oil of orange-flowers, a volatile oil 
distilled from fresh orange-flowers, whose fragrant odor 
it possesses. It is used in the preparation of Cologne 
water. Oil of orange-peel, an aromatic oil extracted 
by mechanical meansfrom fresh orange-peel. It is used 
in flavoring. Oil of origanum, marjoram-oil. Oil Of 
orris-root, a solid crystallizable substance distilled from 
orris-root. Oil Of palms, money. [Humorous.] Oil Of 
parsley, a volatile oil obtained from the fruit of PetroseK- 
num sativum. Oil Of pennyroyal. Same as oil of hedeo- 
ma. Oil of peppermint, an oil obtained from the fresh 
herbs of Menthapiperita by distillation with water. Its pe- 
culiar odor, similar to that of the plant, is due to the men- 
thol, or peppermint-camphor, which it contains. Oil of 
pimento, a volatile oil obtained from the fruit of Eugenia 
Pimenta. It is one of the ingredients of bay-rum. Also 
called oil of allspice. Oil of red cedar, a volatile oil ob- 
tained from the leaves of Juniperus Virainiana. Oil Of 
rhodium, a volatile oil distilled from the root of different 
species of Convolvulus. Oil of rose, a volatile oil distilled 
from the fresh flowers of different species of rose. Also 
called attar, otto, or essence of roses. See attar. Oil of 
rosemary, a volatile oil distilled from Jtosmarinus offici- 
nalis.OU Of rue, a volatile oil distilled from Ruta grave- 
olens. Oil of sandalwood. Same as oil of santal. Oil 
Of santal, a volatile oil distilled from santal or sandal- 
wood. It is chiefly used as a perfume, but also as a medi- 
cine. Oil of sassafras, an oil distilled from the roots of 
the sassafras-tree. It is one of the heaviest of the volatile 
oils. Oil Of sautonica, a volatile oil distilled from sau- 
tonica. Oil Of savin, a volatile oil distilled from the 
fresh branches of Jumperus Sabina. Oil of sesamum, 
a bland, sweetish, non-drying oil expressed from the seed 
of Sesamum Indfcum : used as a substitute for sweet-oil. 
See benne. Also called sesame-oil, benne-oil, gingili-oil, and 
teel-oil. Oil of spearmint, an oil resembling that of pep- 
permint, distilled from fresh plants otMentha viridis.Oil 
Of spike. See oil of lavender, under lavender^. Oil of 
spruce, oil of hemlock. Oil of talct, a nostrum formerly 
famous as a cosmetic, probably because talc, when cal- 
cined, became very white, and was considered a fit substi- 
tute for ceruse. 
He should have brought me some fresh oil of talc ; 
These ceruses are common. 
Massinger, City Madam, iv. 2. 
Oil Of tansy, a volatile oil distilled from the leaves and 
tips of Tanacetum vulgare. Oil of tar, a volatile oil dis- 
tilled from tar. Oil of theobroma, a fixed oil expressed 
Thou hast a tongue, I hope, that is not oil'd 
With flattery : be open. 
Ford, Lover's Melancholy, ii. 1. 
Oiled leather. See leather. Oiled paper, paper satu- 
rated with oil, either (1) to render it transparent and thus 
fit it for tracing purposes, or (2) to make it water-proof, 
as in China, Japan, etc., where oiled paper is extensively 
used for umbrellas, water-pails, lanterns, rain-clothes, etc. 
Oiled sheets, in printing, paper that has been saturated 
with oil and dried, applied to the impression-surfaces 
of printing-presses to resist the set-off or transfer of ink 
from newly printed sheets. Oiled silk, silk impregnated 
with boiled oil, semi-transparent and water-proof. It is 
much used in tailoring and dressmaking as a guard against 
perspiration, as in the lining of parts of garments, etc. 
To Oil out, in painting, to rub a thin coating of drying-oil 
over (the parts of a picture intended to be retouched). The 
slight film left behind takes a fresh pigment more readily 
than a perfectly dry surface would. 
-Oil. [An arbitrary variant of -o?.] In cJiem., a 
termination denoting an ether derived from a 
S'lenol : as, anisoS (formerly called anisol). 
-bag (oil'bag), n. 1. In animals, a bag, cyst, 
or gland containing oil. 2. A bag, made of a 
coarse fabric, used to inclose materials in an 
oil-press. 3. A bag containing oil for any pur- 
pose, as, at sea, for spreading a film of oil over 
the surface of the water in a storm. See oil- 
distributer. 
oil-beetle (oirbe'tl), . Any coleopterous in- 
sect of the genus Meloe in a broad sense: so 
called from the oil-like matter which they ex- 
ude. The perfect insects have swollen bodies, with short- 
ish elytra, which lap more or less over each other, and 
have not a straight suture, as iu most coleopterous in- 
sects. See cuts under Meloe. 
oil-bird (oil'berd), . 1. The guacharo or great 
goatsucker of Trinidad, Stealomis curi/K n. .!<., 
Also called fat-bird. See cut under ynacliarv. 
2. A Ceylonese frogmouth, Batrachostonnix 
tiidiiilit/ci: E. L. Layard. 
oil-bottle (oil'bot'l), 11. The egg of a shark as 
it lies in the oviduct. [Cape Cod, U. S.] 
oil-box (oil'boks), 11. In much., a box contain- 
ing a supply of oil for a journal, and feeding it 
by means of a wick or other device ; a journal- 
box. E.H.Kniglit. See cut under {nisnenger- 
enyiiie. 
