Middle English Dictionary Entry
sā̆l-nī̆tre n.
Entry Info
| Forms | sā̆l-nī̆tre n. Also salniter, -nider & (errors) -entir, -inde. |
| Etymology | L sal nitrum; cp. ME sā̆l n. & nī̆tre n. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
A naturally occurring salt, prob. sodium carbonate.
Associated quotations
- ?1316 SMChron.(Roy 12.C.12)185 : Hou hote bathe ymaked ys..Feole thinges ther beth ynne..Salgemme and salpetre, Salarmoniac..Salnitre [vrr. sal nider, sal entir, sal inde] that ys briht.
- a1400 Lanfranc (Ashm 1396)200/20 : Take sal nitre [L salem nitrum] & distempere it wiþ watir.
- (1416) Alch.in Ess.R.16159 : [He laboured..with the art of fire and with mercury, charcoal powder,] sakeon, vermelion, resalger, vertegrees, sal niter, sal alkale, [etc.].
Supplemental Materials (draft)
- a1500 Dc.45 Artist.Recipes (Dc 45) 147/31 : Take sulfre vif .2. li., sal nitre .i. li., [etc.].
- a1525 BodEMus.52 Artist.Recipes (BodEMus 52) 190/7 : To make golde watere. Take vitriole, and sal gemme, and armonyake, and salmyter [read: salniyter], of yche alyche moche, and put all togeder.
Note: Postdates word.
Note: New spellings: salniyter & (error) salmyter.
Note: Editor's note: "sal niyter. A natural salt, PDE nitre (saltpetre: sodium nitrate or potassium nitrate) but also used in ME for natron (sodium carbonate). If this recipe is also to make nitric acid for etching, here it must refer to a nitrate."