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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 2000 (DOST Vol. VIII).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Salpeter, Saltpeter, n. Also: salpetir, -yr, -ar, -re, sall-petir, -peiter, salpit(t)er(e, saulpeter; saltpetir, -pit(t)er. [ME and e.m.E. salpetre (c1325), -peter (Chaucer), e.m.E. also salte-peter (1528–9), salt-peeter (1580) (altered f. Salpeter after Salt n.¹⁾, OF salpetre (c1360 in Larousse), med. L. sal petre, petra, etc. (c1215, etc. in Latham.] Saltpetre, potassium nitrate. Also attrib.(a) 1457 Exch. R. VI 308.
Pro tribus pipis de salpetre [infra salispetri] 1502 Treas. Acc. II 152.
The man that suld mak the salpetir 1507–8 Ib. IV 96.
To ane man brocht sal-petir … to quinta essencia c1500-c1512 Dunb. (OUP) 97/9.
A refing sonne off rakyng Muris … That fulle dismemberit hes my meter And poysonid it with strang salpeter 1508 Treas. Acc. IV 117.
Sall petir 1532 Ib. VI 158.
To vpbring the coppir, pulder and saulpeter … to the castell 1538 M. Works Acc. (ed.) I 233.
For certane expensis … in salpeter bruntstane ule petroll tarpantyne [etc.] 1536 Treas. Acc. VI 281.
Salpetyr 1541 Ib. VIII 119.
Ane kingking of gros pulder, ane kynking of salpeter 1542 Ib. 130.
Twa tubbis … to putt salpetir and charcole in Ib.
For twa pannis to seith the salpetir Ib.
Quhare the salpeter is puryfiit Ib. 151.
And send in Denmark for bying of mettell, powder, salpetir, and uther munitionis Ib. 154.
Sallpetir 1547–8 Ib. IX 143.
To ane Francheman direct to serche and seik salpetar and necessaris to mak it with in the west cuntre 1572-5 Diurn. Occurr. 229.
v^c bullattis, with ane certane of sall peiter a1578 Pitsc. II 257/31.
Salpiter 1578 Treas. Acc. XIII 230. 1581-1623 James VI Poems I 127/128.
A montaine quhose tempesteouse gulfe hath store Both of salpittere of picce & brimstone(b) 1501 Treas. Acc. II 63.
For xiiij unce saltpetir to him [sc. the goldsmith), ilk unce iij d. 1501–2 Ib. 139.
For ij pund salt petir to the leich 1558 Edinb. Old Acc. in Mill Mediæv. Plays 184.
For canves bruntstane salt peter lumbard paper to the fyre balls 1569-73 Bann. Memor. 174.
Saltpiter a1597-1617 Hist. Jas. VI (1825) 84.
Sum salt petir to mak gun poulder of 1579, 1617 Despauter (1617) 80.
Nitrum, salt peter [1579salpeter] 1617 M. Works Acc. (ed.) II 90. 1702 Household Bk. Gr. Baillie 66.
For salt pitter to 6 lambs £1 10 s.attrib. 1540–1 Treas. Acc. VII 489.
For four dusan girdis to gird the salpeter barrellis witht