English Explanatory Dictionary

saltpetre

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Potassium nitrate.
  2. Sodium nitrate.
verb
  1. To treat with saltpetre.

Pronunciation

/ˈsɔːltpiːtə(ɹ)/ /sɔːltˈpiːtə(ɹ)/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-saltpetre.wav LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-saltpetre2.wav

Word forms

saltpetre saltpetres saltpeter saltpetring saltpetred

Etymology

From Middle English saltpetre, alteration of Old French salpetre, from Medieval Latin sāl petrae (“salt of the rock”), named so being found as an incrustation. Alteration of the first element is from folk-etymological association with salt (which is, nevertheless, cognate to Latin sāl).

Synonyms

Chilean saltpeter Chilean saltpetre nitrate of potash niter nitre potassium nitrate caliche Chile saltpeter Chile saltpetre soda niter soda nitre sodium nitrate

Derived words

Chile saltpetre Chilean saltpetre Norway salpetre
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