The Collaborative International Dictionary
Tartar \Tar"tar\, n. [F. tartre (cf. Pr. tartari, Sp., Pg., & It. tartaro, LL. tartarum, LGr. ?); perhaps of Arabic origin.]
(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.
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A correction which often incrusts the teeth, consisting of salivary mucus, animal matter, and phosphate of lime.
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.
Wiktionary
n. (context medicine English) A poisonous salt, ''potassium antimonyl tartrate'', used as an expectorant
WordNet
n. a poisonous colorless salt used as a mordant and in medicine [syn: antimony potassium tartrate]
Usage examples of "tartar emetic".
Many small bottles and vials: tartar emetic, mercurous chloride, syrup of squill, tincture of opium.
Two hours later he drove up in a cabriolet to the door of a chemist in Paris, and asked for twelve grains of tartar emetic, which he wanted to mix in a wash according to a prescription of Dr.
She also used tartar emetic with great frequency to cure what she called distress, and in a small bottle which she alone controlled, she kept laudanum to use when amputations or tooth extractions were necessary.
She also used tartar emetic with great frequency to cure what she called distress, and in a small bottle which she alone controlled, she kept laudanum to use when amputa.
This reprobate had betrayed not only his physician's calling but his marital commitments by subjecting his wife to the slow torture of poisoning with tartar emetic.