potash

Calque of Dutch potas, coined in 1598, equivalent to pot +‎ ash. The literal translation is “pot ash”, because it was made by burning wood to ashes in a large pot. First attested in 1648. Doublet of potassium and potassa.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈpɒt.æʃ/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈpɑt.æʃ/

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• Rhymes: -æʃ

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potash (countable and uncountable, plural potashes)

1. The water-soluble part of the ash formed by burning plant material; used for making soap and glass and as a fertilizer.

   Hypernym: ash

   Coordinate term: fly ash

2. (chemistry) An impure form of potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) mixed with other potassium salts.
3. (chemistry, archaic) Potassium. Chiefly used in the names of compounds of the form "... of potash".

   permanganate of potash ― potassium permanganate

4. A class of potassium minerals, of similar applicability to potassium carbonate, such as being a fertilizer. (ie. potassium chloride, potassium hydroxide)

potash (third-person singular simple present potashes, present participle potashing, simple past and past participle potashed)

1. To treat with potassium.
   • 1910, Platers' Guide: With which is Combined Brass World:

     In order to ascertain the difference between the rapidity of pickling when the tin frames had been potashed and pickling without such treatment, two batches were used.

   • 1915, Metal Finishing: Preparation, Electroplating, Coating:

     Gold ornaments are sand blasted or steel brushed nicely, then potashed,

   • 1953, Nature Magazine, page 223:

     After removal from a worker bee they should be potashed in ten percent potassium hydroxide, washed, dehydrated, cleared, and mounted.

   • 2003, Senckenbergiana biologica, page 136:

     For the extraction of the internal sclerites the aedeagus was potashed in cold saturated KOH solution for several hours and transferred to a vial of distilled water.

• Krueger, Dennis (December 1982). "Why On Earth Do They Call It Throwing?" Studio Potter Vol. 11, Number 1.

• Pashto, pathos, sophta