saltpetre
English
Alternative forms
Etymology
From Middle English saltpetre, alteration of Old French salpetre, from Medieval Latin sāl petrae (“salt of the rock”), named so being found as an incrustation. Alteration of the first element is from folk-etymological association with salt (which is, nevertheless, cognate to Latin sāl).
Noun
saltpetre (usually uncountable, plural saltpetres)
- (originally) Potassium nitrate.
- (uncommon) 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
Translations
potassium nitrate — see potassium nitrate
sodium nitrate — see sodium nitrate