The Collaborative International Dictionary
Sal \Sal\ (s[a^]l), n. [L. See Salt.] (Chem. & Pharm.) Salt. Sal absinthii [NL.] (Old Chem.), an impure potassium carbonate obtained from the ashes of wormwood ( Artemisia Absinthium). Sal acetosell[ae] [NL.] (Old Chem.), salt of sorrel. Sal alembroth. (Old Chem.) See Alembroth. Sal ammoniac (Chem.), ammonium chloride, NH4Cl, a white crystalline volatile substance having a sharp salty taste, obtained from gas works, from nitrogenous matter, etc. It is largely employed as a source of ammonia, as a reagent, and as an expectorant in bronchitis. So called because originally made from the soot from camel's dung at the temple of Jupiter Ammon in Africa. Called also muriate of ammonia. Sal catharticus [NL.] (Old Med. Chem.), Epsom salts. Sal culinarius [L.] (Old Chem.), common salt, or sodium chloride. Sal Cyrenaicus. [NL.] (Old Chem.) See Sal ammoniac above. Sal de duobus, Sal duplicatum [NL.] (Old Chem.), potassium sulphate; -- so called because erroneously supposed to be composed of two salts, one acid and one alkaline. Sal diureticus [NL.] (Old Med. Chem.), potassium acetate. Sal enixum [NL.] (Old Chem.), acid potassium sulphate. Sal gemm[ae] [NL.] (Old Min.), common salt occuring native. Sal Jovis [NL.] (Old Chem.), salt tin, or stannic chloride; -- the alchemical name of tin being Jove. Sal Martis [NL.] (Old Chem.), green vitriol, or ferrous sulphate; -- the alchemical name of iron being Mars. Sal microcosmicum [NL.] (Old Chem.) See Microcosmic salt, under Microcosmic. Sal plumbi [NL.] (Old Chem.), sugar of lead. Sal prunella. (Old Chem.) See Prunella salt, under 1st Prunella. Sal Saturni [NL.] (Old Chem.), sugar of lead, or lead acetate; -- the alchemical name of lead being Saturn. Sal sedativus [NL.] (Old Chem.), sedative salt, or boric acid. Sal Seignette [F. seignette, sel de seignette] (Chem.), Rochelle salt. Sal soda (Chem.), sodium carbonate. See under Sodium. Sal vitrioli [NL.] (Old Chem.), white vitriol; zinc sulphate. Sal volatile. [NL.]
(Chem.) See Sal ammoniac, above.
Spirits of ammonia.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
n. ammonium carbonate
WordNet
n. a solution of ammonium carbonate in ammonia water and alcohol [syn: spirits of ammonia]
Usage examples of "sal volatile".
In the other case Johnnie had put a bottle of Glenlivet malt whisky, one of those sand hot-water bottles that keep hot for hours, a heavy sweater, sal volatile, smelling salts, a box containing a hypodermic needle and four small ampoules of megimide, four vials of aminophylline and a dark bottle that I guessed was nikethamide - a circulatory stimulant - a mirror to detect breathing, a short Piorry's wooden stethoscope, a thermometer, a pen torch suitable for examining pupils, and a marking pencil.
The Governor had been informed, with the result that brows were being clutched, oaths sworn, fists shaken, and sal volatile sold out in the shops, no doubt.
He is the sort of man who would recommend sal volatile to the Pythoness if she consulted him.
He insisted on accompanying her to the house, however, and would have brought a dose of sal volatile to her room had she not been resolute in declining it.