I. ˈtär-tər noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin tartarum
Date: 14th century
1. : a substance consisting essentially of cream of tartar that is derived from the juice of grapes and deposited in wine casks together with yeast and other suspended matters as a pale or dark reddish crust or sediment ; especially : a recrystallized product yielding cream of tartar on further purification
2. : an incrustation on the teeth consisting of plaque that has become hardened by the deposition of mineral salts (as calcium carbonate)
II. noun
Etymology: Middle English Tartre, from Middle French Tartare, probably from Medieval Latin Tartarus, modification of Persian Tātār — more at Tatar
Date: 14th century
1. capitalized : a native or inhabitant of Tartary
2. capitalized : Tatar 2
3. often capitalized : a person of irritable or violent temper
4. : one that proves to be unexpectedly formidable
• Tartar adjective
• Tar·tar·i·an tär-ˈter-ē-ən adjective