Middle English Dictionary Entry
nī̆trum n.
Entry Info
| Forms | nī̆trum n. Also nitro. |
| Etymology | L |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
(a) Native sodium carbonate, natron; water ~, mineral water containing natron; (b) med. natron used in medicaments; poudre of ~, natron reduced to a powder by grinding, ground natron.
Associated quotations
a
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)203a/a : Nitrum..is a stone somdele white and may be hewe and y-cloue and is ful clere..nitrum haþ þat name of þe cuntre of nitrea þat is in egipt..nitrum is a veyne of erþe and is hoot and druye and light rede oþer white oþer Cytryn and is bitter, soure, and somdel salt in sauour.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)316b/b : Som [liquoures] cometh of veynes of þe erþe, as water of salt welles and water nitrum [L aqua..nitrosa].
- c1475 Court Sap.(Trin-C R.3.21)1040 : The stoone Nitrum that helpeth to wassh clene.
- a1500 Peterb.Lapid.(Peterb 33)p.113 : Nitrum is a veyne of þe erþe.
b
- ?a1200(OE) Hrl.HApul.(Hrl 6258B:Berberich)92.49/2 : Wyrt & ysopum & nitrum & cærsan, cnuca..tosomne..heo awelled ða wyrmas.
- ?a1200(?OE) PDidax.(Hrl 6258b)33/4 : Wyrc þanne clydan of eorþan, þa mann nemneþ nitro, þa byþ fundan on Ytalia, and do þar piper to and leȝe to þan sare, fort þe man wearmie.
- (a1398) *Trev.Barth.(Add 27944)203a/a : Þe vertue..dissolueþ and tempereþ, draweþ and clenseþ and wasteþ superfluitie of humours..nitrum abateþ fattenes, if it is y-take in þe mouþe, and consumeþ and wasteþ gleymy humours.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)195/21 : Frote him wiþ an oynement maad of armoniac & with þe sournes of citri, & nitro [L nitro] is good þerfore.
- ?a1425 *Chauliac(1) (NY 12)40a/b : Medle þo þingez..with som apertiuez farmaciez as..is nitrum þat is called affronitum.
- c1450 Burg.Practica (Rwl D.251)211/16 : Take þe poudyr of nitrum and of salt watyr and of hony and of oyle and make þerof a clistere.
- c1450 Med.Bk.(1) (Med-L 136)30/46 : Take comyn and peper & nitrum..thys will hele þe ach of the brest..And iff be etyn oft it..confortith þe stomake and makyth digestion.