saltpeter Hear it!

saltpeter definition

salt·peter (sôlt′pēt′ər, sôlt′pēt′ər)

noun

potassium nitrate
Brit. sp. saltpetre salt′·pe′·tre

Etymology: altered (infl. by salt) < ME salpetre < MFr < ML sal petrae, salt of rock < L sal, salt + petra, rock

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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