saltpeter
英 ['sɔːlt'piːtə]
美 ['sɔlt,pitɚ]
saltpeter 硝石，硝酸钾来自古法语 salpetre,硝石，硝酸钾，来自拉丁语 sal petrae,石头上的盐，来自 sal,盐，词源同 salt,petra,石头，词源同 petrous,petrol.因这种物质形如盐在石头上的结晶体而得名。
- saltpeter (n.)
- "potassium nitrate," c. 1500, earlier salpetre (early 14c.), from Old French salpetre, from Medieval Latin sal petrae "salt of rock," from Latin sal "salt" (see salt (n.)) + petra "rock, stone" (see petrous). So called because it looks like salt encrusted on rock.
