saleratus U.S.
(sæləˈreɪtəs)
Also salæratus.
[a. mod.L. sal aerātus ‘aerated salt’.]
An impure bicarbonate of potash containing more carbon dioxide than pearl-ash does, much used as an ingredient in baking-powders. Now also applied to sodium bicarbonate used for the same purpose.
| 1837 S. Graham Treat. Bread-Making 46 Pearlash or saleratus is also used by them in considerable quantities. 1846 Worcester (citing Adams), Saleratus, a sort of refined pearl-ash. 1854 Mrs. Stowe Sunny Memories xx. II. 19 Hot biscuits, hot corn-cakes, and other compounds got up with the acrid poison of saleratus. 1880 New Virginians ii. I. 64 Bread made with carbonate of soda, saleratus, or any other kind of baking-powder. 1883 B. Harte Carquinez Woods iv. 98 Without extra trouble kneaded flour, water and saleratus need not be essentially heavy. |
| attrib. 1846 Knickerbocker XXVII. 510 The white sal-æratus cake and the ‘water bewitched’ are quickly devoured. 1853 Mrs. A. L. Webster Improved Housewife 130 Salaeratus Biscuit. 1867 [Mrs. Whitney] Summer in L. Goldthwaite's Life 71 They think it is only saleratus cakes and maple molasses. 1884 Harper's Mag. Jan. 297/1 Salæratus bread, heavy pastry, and fried meat do not form the best diet. |