spirit of hartshorn

American  

Or spirits of hartshorn

noun

Chemistry.

1. a colorless, pungent, suffocating, aqueous solution of about 28.5 percent ammonia gas: used chiefly as a detergent, for removing stains and extracting certain vegetable coloring agents, and in the manufacture of ammonium salts.

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Etymology

Origin of spirit of hartshorn

First recorded in 1675–85

Example Sentences

We have grappled with "spirit," and fixed its meaning in a chemical sense; we have no longer "spirit" of salt, or "spirit" of hartshorn.

From The Art of Perfumery And Methods of Obtaining the Odors of Plants by Piesse, George William Septimus

The "drops" were a preparation of spirit of hartshorn, with other things; they were used in fainting, apoplexies, &c.

From The Tatler, Volume 1, 1899 by Aitken, George A.

He took, without considerable relief, gum kino, sanguis diaconis melted with alum, tincture of cantharides, isinglass, gum arabic, crabs eyes, spirit of hartshorn, and eat ten or fifteen oysters thrice a day.

From Zoonomia, Vol. I Or, the Laws of Organic Life by Darwin, Erasmus

For this purpose it should be continued till past the time of the expected cold fit, supported by moderate doses of wine-whey, with spirit of hartshorn, and moderate degrees of warmth.

From Zoonomia, Vol. II Or, the Laws of Organic Life by Darwin, Erasmus

I was at this time sensible of no pain, and little uneasiness; I can give you no better idea of my situation than by repeating my simile of the bowl of spirit of hartshorn.

From Following the Equator, Part 6 by Twain, Mark