Definition

: a green or bluish deposit formed on copper, brass, or bronze surfaces

Did You Know?

“Green of Greece”—that is the literal translation of vert de Grece, the Anglo-French phrase from which the modern word verdigris descends. A coating of verdigris forms naturally on copper and copper alloys such as brass and bronze when those metals are exposed to air. (It can also be produced artificially.) The word verdigris has been associated with statuary and architecture, ancient and modern, since it was first used in the 14th century. Some American English speakers may find that they know it best from the greenish-blue coating that covers the copper of the Statue of Liberty.

Examples

“Verdigris is poisonous when ingested, and for that reason—and to prevent copper’s metallic flavor from leaching into food—copper cookware is lined with metal such as tin or stainless steel.” — Jacob Dean, Yahoo! Life, 25 Nov. 2020

“Another genius stroke of branding comes by way of the curious pistachio hue sprinkled liberally throughout the offerings. Dubbed ‘Liberty green’ by the campaign, it’s a not-so-subtle nod to the verdigris patina of another high-profile political woman—the Statue of Liberty.” — Adam Tschorn, The Detroit News, 12 Nov. 2019