saltpetre

Meaning

Noun

1. (uncountable, usually) Potassium nitrate.
2. (uncommon, uncountable, usually) Sodium nitrate.

Verb

To treat with saltpetre.

Synonyms

saltpeter

nitre

potassium nitrate

niter

nitrate

gunpowder

nitrokalite

Translations

salpêtre

salitre

Salpeter

salnitro

salpeter

nitre

salitre

nitrato di potassio

nitre

νίτρο

salnitre

νιτρικό κάλιο

güherçile

salpêtre du Chili

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈsɔːltpiːtə(ɹ)/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: saltpetre

In summary

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).