saltpetre
English edit
Alternative forms edit
Etymology edit
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).
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
saltpetre (usually uncountable, plural saltpetres)
- (originally) Potassium nitrate.
- (uncommon) Sodium nitrate.
Synonyms edit
- (potassium nitrate): Chilean saltpeter/Chilean saltpetre, nitrate of potash, niter/nitre, potassium nitrate
- (sodium nitrate): caliche, Chile saltpeter/Chile saltpetre, soda niter/soda nitre, sodium nitrate
Derived terms edit
Translations edit
potassium nitrate — see potassium nitrate
sodium nitrate — see sodium nitrate
Verb edit
saltpetre (third-person singular simple present saltpetres, present participle saltpetring, simple past and past participle saltpetred)
- (transitive) To treat with saltpetre.