potash

English

Etymology

From Dutch potasch (modern spelling potas), coined in 1598. The literal translation is pot ash, because it was made by burning wood to ashes in a large pot. First attested in 1648.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /pɒt.æʃ/

Noun

potash (countable and uncountable, plural potashes)

1. the water-soluble part of the ash formed by burning plant material; used for making soap, glass and as a fertilizer
2. (chemistry) an impure form of potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) mixed with other potassium salts
3. (chemistry, archaic) in the names of compounds of the form "... of potash", potassium (for example, "permanganate of potash" = potassium permanganate)

Translations

pot ash

• Czech: potaš f
• Dutch: potas (nl)
• Finnish: potaska (fi)
• German: Pottasche (de) f
• Italian: potassa (it) f

• Lao: please add this translation if you can
• Polish: potaż (pl) m
• Spanish: potasa f, lejía (es) f
• Swedish: pottaska c
• Tagalog: potasa

potassium carbonate etc

• Czech: potaš f
• Finnish: potaska (fi)
• German: Pottasche (de) f

• Italian: potassa (it) f
• Lao: please add this translation if you can
• Polish: potaż (pl) m

dated chemistry

• Italian: potassa (it) f

Derived terms

• acetate of potash
• carbonate of potash
• caustic potash
• chlorate of potash
• chromate of potash
• citrate of potash
• iridiate of potash
• manganate of potash
• nitrate of potash
• muriate of potash
• osmiate of potash
• oxygenated muriate of potash
• permanganate of potash
• plumbate of potash

• potash alum
• potashery
• potash-felspar
• potash-granite
• potash greensand
• potash kettle
• potash-lime
• potash-mica
• potash-water
• silicate of potash
• stannate of potash
• stannite of potash
• sulfate of potash, sulphate of potash
• sulfurated potash, sulphurated potash

Related terms

• potass
• potassa
• potassium

References

• Krueger, Dennis (December 1982). "Why On Earth Do They Call It Throwing?" Studio Potter Vol. 11, Number 1.[1]

Anagrams

• Pashto, pathos, sophta