spirits of hartshorn

2 definitions found

spirits of hartshorn - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Hartshorn \Harts"horn`\ (-h[^o]rn`), n.
     1. The horn or antler of the hart, or male red deer.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Spirits of hartshorn (see below); volatile salts.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Hartshorn plantain (Bot.), an annual species of plantain
        (Plantago Coronopus); -- called also buck's-horn.
        --Booth.
  
     Hartshorn shavings, originally taken from the horns of
        harts, are now obtained chiefly by planing down the bones
        of calves. They afford a kind of jelly. --Hebert.
  
     Salt of hartshorn (Chem.), an impure solid carbonate of
        ammonia, obtained by the destructive distillation of
        hartshorn, or any kind of bone; volatile salts. --Brande &
        C.
  
     Spirits of hartshorn (Chem.), a solution of ammonia in
        water; -- so called because formerly obtained from
        hartshorn shavings by destructive distillation. Similar
        ammoniacal solutions from other sources have received the
        same name.
        [1913 Webster]

  ammonia \am*mo"ni*a\ ([a^]m*m[=o]"n[i^]*[.a]), n. [From sal
     ammoniac, which was first obtaining near the temple of
     Jupiter Ammon, by burning camel's dung. See Ammoniac.]
     (Chem.)
     A gaseous compound of hydrogen and nitrogen, NH3, with a
     pungent smell and taste: -- often called volatile alkali,
     and spirits of hartshorn. It is very soluble in water,
     forming a moderately alkaline solution, and is used in
     aqueous solution as a household cleaning agent, such as for
     cleaning grease from glass.
     [1913 Webster + PJC] Ammoniac