Phrase guide

gall-nut ink

noun · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

acid blue-to-black ink, blue or purple when fresh, but turning intense black from iron oxidation, containing iron ions and tannic acids obtained from crushed gall-nuts and a solution of gum, or glue, and copperas, slowly replaced carbon ink and used from late antiquity to 20th century

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

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Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

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Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: encre de noix de galle — ink obtained from crushed gallnuts
  • German: Eisengallustinte — ink obtained from crushed gallnuts
  • German: Gallustinte — ink obtained from crushed gallnuts
  • Italian: inchiostro metallo-gallico — ink obtained from crushed gallnuts
  • Italian: inchiostro ferrogallico — ink obtained from crushed gallnuts
  • Portuguese: tinta metalogálica — ink obtained from crushed gallnuts
  • Portuguese: tinta ferrogálica — ink obtained from crushed gallnuts
  • Spanish: tinta de agallas — ink obtained from crushed gallnuts