tartar emetic

2 definitions found

tartar emetic - Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 :

  Tartar \Tar"tar\, n. [F. tartre (cf. Pr. tartari, Sp., Pg., &
     It. tartaro, LL. tartarum, LGr. ?); perhaps of Arabic
     origin.]
     1. (Chem.) A reddish crust or sediment in wine casks,
        consisting essentially of crude cream of tartar, and used
        in marking pure cream of tartar, tartaric acid, potassium
        carbonate, black flux, etc., and, in dyeing, as a mordant
        for woolen goods; -- called also argol, wine stone,
        etc.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. A correction which often incrusts the teeth, consisting of
        salivary mucus, animal matter, and phosphate of lime.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Cream of tartar. (Chem.) See under Cream.
  
     Tartar emetic (Med. Chem.), a double tartrate of potassium
        and basic antimony. It is a poisonous white crystalline
        substance having a sweetish metallic taste, and used in
        medicine as a sudorific and emetic.
        [1913 Webster]

tartar emetic - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  tartar emetic
      n 1: a poisonous colorless salt used as a mordant and in
           medicine [syn: tartar emetic, antimony potassium tartrate
           ]