A reddish brown acidic liquid consisting chiefly of acetic acid, methanol, wood-oils, and tars, produced by the destructive distillation of wood; wood vinegar.
Origin
Late 18th century.
Definition of pyroligneous acid in US English:
pyroligneous acid
noun
A reddish brown acidic liquid consisting chiefly of acetic acid, methanol, wood-oils, and tars, produced by the destructive distillation of wood; wood vinegar.