The Collaborative International Dictionary
To salt a mine
Salt \Salt\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Salted; p. pr. & vb. n. Salting.]
To sprinkle, impregnate, or season with salt; to preserve with salt or in brine; to supply with salt; as, to salt fish, beef, or pork; to salt cattle.
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To fill with salt between the timbers and planks, as a ship, for the preservation of the timber.
To salt a mine, to artfully deposit minerals in a mine in order to deceive purchasers regarding its value. [Cant]
To salt away, To salt down, to prepare with, or pack in, salt for preserving, as meat, eggs, etc.; hence, colloquially, to save, lay up, or invest sagely, as money.