n. [ F. tartre (cf. Pr. tartari, Sp., Pg., & It. tartaro, LL. tartarum, LGr. &unr_;); perhaps of Arabic origin. ] 1. (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. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A correction which often incrusts the teeth, consisting of salivary mucus, animal matter, and phosphate of lime. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. [ Per. Tātār, of Tartar origin. ] A native or inhabitant of Tartary in Asia; a member of any one of numerous tribes, chiefly Moslem, of Turkish origin, inhabiting the Russian Europe; -- written also, more correctly but less usually, Tatar. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A person of a keen, irritable temper. [ 1913 Webster ]

To catch a tartar, to lay hold of, or encounter, a person who proves too strong for the assailant. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to Tartary in Asia, or the Tartars. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. tartare. ] See Tartarus. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Tartrated. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. tartareus: cf. F. tartaréen. ] Of or pertaining to Tartarus; hellish. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. 1st Tartarous. ] 1. Consisting of tartar; of the nature of tartar. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Having the surface rough and crumbling; as, many lichens are tartareous. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Bot.) The name of some kinds of cherries, as the Black Tartarian, or the White Tartarian. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Of or pertaining to Tartary in Asia, or the Tartars. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tartarian lamb (Bot.), Scythian lamb. See Barometz. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to tartar; derived from, or resembling, tartar. [ 1913 Webster ]

Tartaric acid. (a) An acid widely diffused throughout the vegetable kingdom, as in grapes, mountain-ash berries, etc., and obtained from tartar as a white crystalline substance, C2H2(OH)2.(CO2H)2, having a strong pure acid taste. It is used in medicine, in dyeing, calico printing, photography, etc., and also as a substitute for lemon juice. Called also dextro-tartaric acid. (b) By extension, any one of the series of isomeric acids (racemic acid, levotartaric acid, inactive tartaric acid) of which tartaric acid proper is the type. [ 1913 Webster ]