saltpetre

S1A1L1T1P3E1T1R1E1
/ˈsɔːltpiːtə(ɹ)//sɔːltˈpiːtə(ɹ)/

noun

Potassium nitrate.

Similar
Chilean saltpeterChilean saltpetrenitrate of potashniternitrepotassium nitratecalicheChile saltpeter
OriginMiddle English saltpetre ← Old French salpetre ← Medieval Latin sāl petrae →
RareScrabble 11
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Meanings

nounsaltpetre (usually uncountable, plural saltpetres)

plural saltpetres · alternative US saltpeter

  1. uncountableusuallyoriginallyPotassium nitrate.

    Synonyms: Chilean saltpeter, Chilean saltpetre, nitrate of potash, niter, nitre, potassium nitrate

  2. uncommonuncountableusuallySodium nitrate.

    Synonyms: caliche, Chile saltpeter, Chile saltpetre, soda niter, soda nitre, sodium nitrate

verbsaltpetre (third-person singular simple present saltpetres, present participle saltpetring, simple past and past participle saltpetred)

present singular third person saltpetres · participle present saltpetring · participle past saltpetred · past saltpetred · alternative US saltpeter

  1. transitiveTo treat with saltpetre.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounPotassium nitrate.

Similar
Chilean saltpeterChilean saltpetrenitrate of potashniternitrepotassium nitrate

nounSodium nitrate.

Similar
calicheChile saltpeterChile saltpetresoda nitersoda nitresodium nitrate

More synonyms by meaning

noun(KNO3) used especially as a fertilizer and explosive

Similar
potassium nitratesaltpeterniternitre
Broader
nitrate
Also see
niternitrepotassium nitrate

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*sḗh₂l
  2. Proto-Italic*sāls
  3. Latinsāl
  4. Ancient Greekπέτρᾱ (pétrā)
  5. Latinpetrae
  6. Medieval Latinsāl petrae
  7. Old Frenchsalpetre
  8. Middle Englishsaltpetre
  9. Englishsaltpetre

From Middle English saltpetre, alteration of Old French salpetre, from Medieval Latin sāl petrae (“salt of the rock”), named so being found as an incrustation. Alteration of the first element is from folk-etymological association with salt (which is, nevertheless, cognate to Latin sāl).

More words from Middle English, Old French, Medieval Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Rhymes & wordplay

Anagrams

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Cite this entry
APA

saltpetre. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/saltpetre

MLA

“saltpetre.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/saltpetre. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “saltpetre,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/saltpetre.

Source: saltpetre on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.