Dictionary entry

Pittacal

Webster's Dictionary 1913

Pit″ta‐cal (pĭt″tȧ‐kăl), n. [Gr. πίττα, πίσσα, pitch + καλόσ beautiful: cf. F. pittacale.] (Chem.) A dark blue substance obtained from wood tar. It consists of hydrocarbons which when oxidized form the orange-yellow eupittonic compounds, the salts of which are dark blue.