Salt

Salt , noun

[Anglo-Saxon sealt; akin to Old Saxon & OFries. salt, Dutch zout, German salz, Icelandic, Swedish, & Danish salt, Latin sal, Greek {not transcribed}, Russ. sole, Ir. & Gael. salann, Welsh halen, of unknown origin. Compare Sal, Salad, Salary, Saline, Sauce, Sausage.]

The chloride of sodium, a substance used for seasoning food, for the preservation of meat, etc. It is found native in the earth, and is also produced, by evaporation and crystallization, from sea water and other water impregnated with saline particles.

Hence, flavor; taste; savor; smack; seasoning.

Though we are justices and doctors and churchmen... we have some salt of our youth in us. — Shakespeare

Hence, also, piquancy; wit; sense; as, Attic salt.

A dish for salt at table; a saltcellar.

I out and bought some things; among others, a dozen of silver salts. — Pepys

A sailor; -- usually qualified by old. [Colloquial]

Around the door are generally to be seen, laughing and gossiping, clusters of old salts. — Hawthorne

(Chemistry) The neutral compound formed by the union of an acid and a base; thus, sulphuric acid and iron form the salt sulphate of iron or green vitriol.

Except in case of ammonium salts, accurately speaking, it is the acid radical which unites with the base or basic radical, with the elimination of hydrogen, of water, or of analogous compounds as side products. In the case of diacid and triacid bases, and of dibasic and tribasic acids, the mutual neutralization may vary in degree, producing respectively basic, neutral, or acid salts. See Phrases below.

Figuratively: That which preserves from corruption or error; that which purifies; a corrective; an antiseptic; also, an allowance or deduction; as, his statements must be taken with a grain of salt.

Ye are the salt of the earth. — Matt. v. 13

Any mineral salt used as an aperient or cathartic, especially Epsom salts, Rochelle salt, or Glauber's salt.

Marshes flooded by the tide. [Provincial English]

His fashion is not to take knowledge of him that is beneath him in clothes. He never drinks below the salt. — B. Jonson

Salt , adjective

[Anglo-Saxon sealt, salt. See Salt, n.]

Of or relating to salt; abounding in, or containing, salt; prepared or preserved with, or tasting of, salt; salted; as, salt beef; salt water.

Salt tears. — Chaucer

Overflowed with, or growing in, salt water; as, a salt marsh; salt grass.

Figuratively: Bitter; sharp; pungent.

I have a salt and sorry rheum offends me. — Shakespeare

Figuratively: Salacious; lecherous; lustful. — Shakespeare

Salt , adjective

Salt , transitive verb

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.

To fill with salt between the timbers and planks, as a ship, for the preservation of the timber.

Collocations (2)

To salt a mine , to artfully deposit minerals in a mine in order to deceive purchasers regarding its value. [Cant]

To salt away or 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.

Salt , intransitive verb

To deposit salt as a saline solution; as, the brine begins to salt.

Salt , noun

[Latin saltus, from salire to leap.]

The act of leaping or jumping; a leap. [Obsolete] — B. Jonson