Where does “saltpetre” come from?
Saltpetre comes from Middle English saltpetre, from Old French salpetre, from Medieval Latin sal petrae meaning "salt of stone," from Latin petra and Ancient Greek πέτρα meaning "stone," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European séh₂ls.
saltpetre (English): Potassium nitrate; Sodium nitrate
Definitions
- Potassium nitrate; Sodium nitrate
Ancestry of “saltpetre”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | saltpetre | — |
| 2 | Old French | salpetre | — |
| 3 | Medieval Latin | salpetra | — |
| 4 | Latin | sāl petrae | — |