nitre

[ nahy-ter ]

noun

, Chiefly British.

1. a variant of niter.

nitre

/ ˈnaɪtə /

noun

1. another name for potassium nitrate sodium nitrate

Word History and Origins

Origin of nitre¹

C14: via Old French from Latin nitrum, from Greek nitron natron

Example Sentences

Many of the records come from the Confederate nitre and mining bureau, which was set up to produce saltpeter, among other things.

From Washington Post

They were in a long, dim cellar with barrel-vaulted ceilings, its stone walls spotted with nitre.

From Literature

He took a healthy swallow of wine and closed his eyes for an instant, leaning his head back against the patch of nitre on the wall.

From Literature

He remembered walls of pale red stone festooned with patches of nitre, a grey door of splintered wood, four inches thick and studded with iron.

From Literature

Sulphur and nitre should be given in the food, as the appearance of these swellings, whatever be their cause, indicates the necessity of alterative medicines.

From Project Gutenberg