Above the salt, Below the salt, phrases which have survived the old
custom, in the houses of people of rank, of placing a large saltcellar
near the middle of a long table, the places above which were assigned
to the guests of distinction, and those below to dependents, inferiors,
and poor relations. See Saltfoot.
His fashion is not to take knowledge of him that is beneath him in
clothes. He never drinks below the salt.
B. Jonson.
-- Acid salt (Chem.) (a) A salt derived from an acid which has several
replaceable hydrogen atoms which are only partially exchanged for
metallic atoms or basic radicals; as, acid potassium sulphate is an
acid salt. (b) A salt, whatever its constitution, which merely gives an
acid reaction; thus, copper sulphate, which is composed of a strong
acid united with a weak base, is an acid salt in this sense, though
theoretically it is a neutral salt. -- Alkaline salt (Chem.), a salt
which gives an alkaline reaction, as sodium carbonate. -- Amphid salt
(Old Chem.), a salt of the oxy type, formerly regarded as composed of
two oxides, an acid and a basic oxide. [Obsolescent] -- Basic salt
(Chem.) (a) A salt which contains more of the basic constituent than is
required to neutralize the acid. (b) An alkaline salt. -- Binary salt
(Chem.), a salt of the oxy type conveniently regarded as composed of
two ingredients (analogously to a haloid salt), viz., a metal and an
acid radical. -- Double salt (Chem.), a salt regarded as formed by the
union of two distinct salts, as common alum, potassium aluminium
sulphate. See under Double. -- Epsom salts. See in the Vocabulary. --
Essential salt (Old Chem.), a salt obtained by crystallizing plant
juices. -- Ethereal salt. (Chem.) See under Ethereal. -- Glauber's salt
or salts. See in Vocabulary. -- Haloid salt (Chem.), a simple salt of a
halogen acid, as sodium chloride. -- Microcosmic salt. (Chem.). See
under Microcosmic. -- Neutral salt. (Chem.) (a) A salt in which the
acid and base (in theory) neutralize each other. (b) A salt which gives
a neutral reaction. -- Oxy salt (Chem.), a salt derived from an oxygen
acid. -- Per salt (Old Chem.), a salt supposed to be derived from a
peroxide base or analogous compound. [Obs.] -- Permanent salt, a salt
which undergoes no change on exposure to the air. -- Proto salt
(Chem.), a salt derived from a protoxide base or analogous compound. --
Rochelle salt. See under Rochelle. -- Salt of amber (Old Chem.),
succinic acid. -- Salt of colcothar (Old Chem.), green vitriol, or
sulphate of iron. -- Salt of hartshorn. (Old Chem.) (a) Sal ammoniac,
or ammonium chloride. (b) Ammonium carbonate. Cf. Spirit of hartshorn,
under Hartshorn. -- Salt of lemons. (Chem.) See Salt of sorrel, below.
-- Salt of Saturn (Old Chem.), sugar of lead; lead acetate; -- the
alchemical name of lead being Saturn. -- Salt of Seignette. Same as
Rochelle salt. -- Salt of soda (Old Chem.), sodium carbonate. -- Salt
of sorrel (Old Chem.), acid potassium oxalate, or potassium
quadroxalate, used as a solvent for ink stains; -- so called because
found in the sorrel, or Oxalis. Also sometimes inaccurately called salt
of lemon. -- Salt of tartar (Old Chem.), potassium carbonate; -- so
called because formerly made by heating cream of tartar, or potassium
tartrate. [Obs.] -- Salt of Venus (Old Chem.), blue vitriol; copper
sulphate; -- the alchemical name of copper being Venus. -- Salt of
wisdom. See Alembroth. -- Sedative salt (Old Med. Chem.), boric acid.
-- Sesqui salt (Chem.), a salt derived from a sesquioxide base or
analogous compound. -- Spirit of salt. (Chem.) See under Spirit. --
Sulpho salt (Chem.), a salt analogous to an oxy salt, but containing
sulphur in place of oxygen.
Salt (?), a. [Compar. Salter (?); superl. Saltest.] [AS. sealt, salt.
See Salt, n.] 1. 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.
2. Overflowed with, or growing in, salt water; as, a salt marsh; salt
grass.