saltpeter
pronunciation
How to pronounce saltpeter in British English:
UK ['sɔ:ltˌpi:tə]
How to pronounce saltpeter in American English:
US ['sɔltˌpitə]
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- Noun:
- (KNO3) used especially as a fertilizer and explosive
Word Origin
- saltpeter (n.)
- "potassium nitrate," c. 1500, earlier salpetre (early 14c.), from Old French salpetre, from Medieval Latin sal petrae "salt of rock," from Latin sal "salt" (see salt (n.)) + petra "rock, stone" (see petrous). So called because it looks like salt encrusted on rock.
Example
- 1. Taught us to mix sulphur and saltpeter .
- 2. Where did you get the saltpeter ?
- 3. Back then , potash was derived from the ashes of hardwood trees and other plants , and mainly used to make soap , glass and saltpeter for gunpowder .
- 4. Humberstone processed the largest deposit of saltpeter ( nitrate 's nickname ) in the world and provided the valuable mineral to countries in north america and europe for fertilizers , food preservatives and explosives .