Saltpeter

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Saltpeter \Salt`pe"ter\, Saltpetre \Salt`pe"tre\,
     (s[add]lt`p[=e]"t[~e]r), n. [F. salp[^e]tre, NL. sal petrae,
     literally, rock salt, or stone salt; so called because it
     exudes from rocks or walls. See {Salt}, and {Petrify}.]
     (Chem.)
     Potassium nitrate; niter; a white crystalline substance,


     {KNO3}, having a cooling saline taste, obtained by leaching
     from certain soils in which it is produced by the process of
     nitrification (see {Nitrification}, 2). It is a strong
     oxidizer, is the chief constituent of gunpowder, and is also
     used as an antiseptic in curing meat, and in medicine as a
     diuretic, diaphoretic, and refrigerant.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Chili salpeter} (Chem.), sodium nitrate (distinguished from
        potassium nitrate, or true salpeter), a white crystalline
        substance, {NaNO3}, having a cooling, saline, slightly
        bitter taste. It is obtained by leaching the soil of the
        rainless districts of Chili and Peru. It is deliquescent
        and cannot be used in gunpowder, but is employed in the
        production of nitric acid. Called also {cubic niter}.
  
     {Saltpeter acid} (Chem.), nitric acid; -- sometimes so called
        because made from saltpeter.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  saltpeter
       n : (KNO3) used especially as a fertilizer and explosive [syn: {potassium
           nitrate}, {saltpetre}, {niter}, {nitre}]