tartar

(tärt′ər)

noun

cream of tartar, esp. the crude form present in grape juice and forming a reddish or whitish, crustlike deposit (argol) in wine casks
a hard deposit on the teeth, consisting of saliva proteins, food deposits, various salts, as calcium phosphate, etc.; dental calculus

Origin: ME < ML tartarum < MGr tartaron < ?

noun

Origin: ME Tartre < ML Tartarus, a Tatar, altered (after Tartarus) < Pers Tātār

adjective

Tatar

See tartar in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Dentistry A hard yellowish deposit on the teeth, consisting of organic secretions and food particles deposited in various salts, such as calcium carbonate. Also called calculus.
A reddish acid compound, chiefly potassium bitartrate, found in the juice of grapes and deposited on the sides of casks during winemaking.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English tartre, potassium bitartrate

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Medieval Latin tartarum, argol

Origin: , from Medieval Greek tartaron

noun

also Ta·tar (täˈtər) A member of any of the Turkic and Mongolian peoples of central Asia who invaded western Asia and eastern Europe in the Middle Ages.
Variant of Tatar.
often tartar A person regarded as ferocious or violent.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English Tartre

Origin: , from Old French Tartare

Origin: , from Medieval Latin Tartarus

Origin: , alteration (influenced by Latin Tartarus, Tartarus)

Origin: of Persian Tātār; see Tatar

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