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missanthropist commented on the word theives' vinegar
During the Great Plague in London, in the year of 1666, four theives, availing themselves of he public calamity, took the opportunity to plunder the hosues of the dead and dying, yet, notwithstanding, escaped the ravenous infection themselves. On its being inquired howe thet thus insured their own safety it was found that they constantly carried about them sponges of prepared vinegar, which preparation future apothecaries adopted in all infectious cases, and sold under the denomintion of theives' vinegare.
Joseph Taylor, Antiquities Curiousae, 1819
A kind of vinegar made by digesting rosemay tops, sage~leaves, etc.
Robert Hunter, Encyclopaedic Dictionary, 1894
February 4, 2009