weep vinegar

[drdeng]

Can anyone tell me what "weep vinegar" means as is found in the passages from Irwin Shaw's novel "Bread Upon the Waters"?

"...Have you been married before?"

"No."

"It shows," Solomon said. "Nellie's my second - and last. I have two awful kids. Not by her," he added hastily. "There's a subject - children. To weep vinegar." His face grew dark as he said it.

[Quizmonster]

The phrase 'to weep bitter tears' is a fairly standard way of indicating sadness and regret. Vinegar is a bitter liquid, too, so I imagine Shaw means the same thing.