saltpeter

1275–1325; earlier salt peter; replacing Middle English sal peter, salpetre<Medieval Latin salpetrē, for Latin sal petrae salt of rock, so called because it commonly encrusts stones

Words nearby saltpeter

salt of the earth, salt of the Earth, Ye are the, Salton Sea, salt out, salt pan, saltpeter, saltpetre, salt pit, salt pork, salt-rising bread, Salt River

How to use saltpeter in a sentence

If the Union can not be preserved without saltpeter, then let enough of this article be employed to secure the result.
Portrait and Biography of Parson Brownlow, The Tennessee Patriot|William Gannaway Brownlow
They found a place where saltpeter was very thinly and erratically distributed.
Space Prison|Tom Godwin
He gave enormous doses of powerful drugs—sixty grains of gamboge, and from two to three ounces of saltpeter in a single day.
An Epitome of the History of Medicine|Roswell Park
Since smoked and cured meats are used in making potted meats, saltpeter is quite frequently found in the latter.
Detection of the Common Food Adulterants|Edwin M. Bruce

Saltpeter was needed for her guns, alkali for her industries, and the chemist was called upon for help.
Appletons' Popular Science Monthly, April 1900|Various

Scientific definitions for saltpeter

saltpeter

[ sôlt′pē′tər ]

See potassium nitrate.

saltpeter

or salt·pe·tre

Origin of saltpeter

Words nearby saltpeter

Words related to saltpeter

How to use saltpeter in a sentence

Scientific definitions for saltpeter