saltpeter

or salt·pe·tre

[sawlt-pee-ter]

noun

the form of potassium nitrate, KNO3, that occurs naturally, used in the manufacture of fireworks, fluxes, gunpowder, etc.; niter.

Chile saltpeter.

Nearby words

Origin of 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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for saltpetre

The saltpetre works buy also draught-mules for their waggons.
The Argentine Republic|Pierre Denis
Clean it well, take out the brains, rub it with a handful of salt, and two ounces of saltpetre.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,|Mary Eaton
A drachm each of saltpetre, ginger, and Barbadoes aloes will form a mild aperient, when made into a mass with a little soft soap.
Riding for Ladies|Mrs. Power O'Donoghue
Saltpetre is dearer in one place than another, being worth one and a half.
A General History and Collection of Voyages and Travels, Volume IX.|Robert Kerr

Nitric acid is procurable in a more concentrated state, and with much less loss, by mixing very dry clay with saltpetre.
Elements of Chemistry,|Antoine Lavoisier

British Dictionary definitions for saltpetre

saltpetre

US saltpeter

noun

another name for potassium nitrate

short for Chile saltpetre

Word Origin for saltpetre

C16: from Old French salpetre, from Latin sal petrae salt of rock

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for saltpetre

saltpetre

chiefly British English spelling of saltpeter (q.v.); for ending, see -re.

saltpeter

"potassium nitrate," c.1500, earlier salpetre (early 14c.), from Old French salpetre, from Medieval Latin sal petrae "salt of rock," from Latin sal "salt" (see salt (n.)) + petra "rock, stone" (see petrous). So called because it looks like salt encrusted on rock.

Science definitions for saltpetre

saltpeter

[sôlt′pē′tər]

See potassium nitrate.