Venice turpentine

noun

The oleoresin (crude turpentine) of European larch (Larix decidua), formerly used as a component in the oil paintings of artists to create glossy, translucent glazes.

Meanings

nounVenice turpentine (uncountable)
  1. historicaluncountableThe oleoresin (crude turpentine) of European larch (Larix decidua), formerly used as a component in the oil paintings of artists to create glossy, translucent glazes.

    [T]hey produce resins, and many of them are supposed to supply the most durable timber: what is called Venice-turpentine is obtained from the larch by wounding the bark about two feet from the ground, and catching it as it exsudes […].

    1789, Erasmus Darwin, The Loves of the Plants

    Synonyms: larch turpentine, Venetian turpentine

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe oleoresin (crude turpentine) of European larch (Larix decidua), formerly used as a component in the oil paintings of artists to create glossy, translucent glazes.

Translations

Ancient Greek λάριξ
  • λάριξ (lárix)distillated resin of European larch
Finnish venetsiantärpätti
  • venetsiantärpättidistillated resin of European larch
German Lärchenterpentin, Lärchenharz
  • Lärchenterpentindistillated resin of European larch
  • Lärchenharzdistillated resin of European larch
Latin coāgulum, larix
  • coāgulumdistillated resin of European larch
  • larixdistillated resin of European larch
Swedish venetiansk terpentin, venetianskt terpentin
  • venetiansk terpentindistillated resin of European larch
  • venetianskt terpentindistillated resin of European larch
Cite this entry
APA

Venice turpentine. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Venice%20turpentine

MLA

“Venice turpentine.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Venice%20turpentine. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Venice turpentine,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Venice%20turpentine.

Source: Venice turpentine on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.