Middle English Dictionary Entry
sā̆l-petre n.
Entry Info
| Forms | sā̆l-petre n. Also salpeter, -petur, sallepeter. |
| Etymology | ML sal petra, AL sal petre & OF salpetre. |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
1.
Saltpeter (potassium nitrate); ?also, gunpowder.
Associated quotations
- ?1316 SMChron.(Roy 12.C.12)183 : Hou hote bathe ymaked ys..Feole thinges ther beth ynne..Salgemme and salpetre [vr. salt petre], Salarmoniac..Salnitre.
- (1378) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)7.187 : Trescentas Libras de Salpetre.
- (1384-5) Acc.R.Dur.in Sur.Soc.103594 : Salpetre emp. pro Gonnis, 7 s. 6 d.
- (c1395) Chaucer CT.CY.(Manly-Rickert)G.808 : Many another thyng..is vn to oure craft [alchemy] apertenyng..Poudres diuerse, asshes, donge, pisse, and cley, Cered poketz, sal peter, vitriole.
- (1412) in Rymer's Foedera (1709-10)8.754 : Quadringentas Libras de Sallepetir.
- ?a1425 *MS Htrn.95 (Htrn 95)174b/a : Take sal peter & vitriol ana & brenne hem to gider.
- (1438) Proc.Privy C.5.101 : A warrant for þe salpetre for Walsyngham.
- c1450(?a1400) Parl.3 Ages (Add 31042)591 : Arestotle..was a fyne philozophire..to graythe and gete golde..With salpetir and sal-ieme and siche many othire.
- a1475 Bk.Quint.(Sln 73)9/20 : Putte al þat mixture into a strong watir maad of vitriol and of sal petre, and þe siluyr wole be dissolued and not þe gold.
- 1483 Cath.Angl.(Monson 168)317 : Salpetyr.
- (a1500) MS Trin-C.916 in Singer Cat.Alchem.(Trin-C 916)2.489 : Make a coresif of witriall, sal petyr, and of alym.
- ?a1500 Henslow Recipes (Henslow)6/16 : Take an ounce of coperose and an vnce of alem plum and an vnce of salpetur and..stille hym half a day, and þat schal be ȝelew water.