saltpetre

English

Alternative forms

• saltpeter (US)

Etymology

From Old French salpetre, from Late Latin sāl petrae (“stone salt; possibly "salt of Petra"”).

Noun

saltpetre (usually uncountable, plural saltpetres)

1. Potassium nitrate.
2. Sodium nitrate.

Synonyms

• (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

• Chile saltpetre
• Chilean saltpetre
• Norway salpetre

Translations

potassium nitrate — see potassium nitrate

sodium nitrate — see sodium nitrate

Anagrams

• saltpeter