noun

saltpeter

saltpetre

Saltpeter is an ingredient in gunpowder.

Saltpetre is an ingredient in gunpowder.

They used saltpeter to preserve meat.

They used saltpetre to preserve meat.

((sth.)) saltpetre Saltpetre is an ingredient in gunpowder.

Synonyms: potassium nitrate, niter

From Medieval Latin 'sal petrae', meaning 'salt of the rock', because it looks like salt crystals on walls.

Break it down into 'salt' and 'peter' (think of St. Peter, the rock). It's the 'salt of the rock'.

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