Salt-pē'ter or Salt-pē'tre, n.

n. [N. Lat. sal petræ, i. e., rock-salt, or stone-salt, so called because it exudes from rocks or walls; Fr. salpêtre, Ger. salpeter.] (Chem.) A salt consisting of nitric acid and potassa; nitrate of potassa;—called also niter.

☞ The name is also often applied to substances analogous in composition to nitrate of potassa, but containing different bases, as soda, lime, and the like, and respectively distinguished as soda saltpeter, lime saltpeter, &c.