niter
nounEtymology From Middle English niter, nitere, nitre, nytre, from Old French nitre, from Latin nitrum (“native soda, natron”), from Ancient Greek νίτρον (nítron). Ultimately from Egyptian nṯrj (“natron”). Doublet of natron and trona. Compare also natrium, nitrogen.
1
Chemistry, Inorganic chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciences US A mineral form of potassium nitrate (saltpetre) used in making gunpowder.
2
Obsolete Native sodium carbonate; natron.
- Derived terms
- niter bush, nitracrol, Nitralloy, nitramidin, nitran, nitraniline, nitranisic, nitrate, nitridation, nitriding, nitrile, nitrion, nitrite, nitryl, soda niter
- Related terms
- nitric, nitrifaction, nitrify, nitrogen, nitrous