potash English · revision 1562

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=calque|attested=1648}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈpɒt.æʃ/ ''(UK)''; /ˈpɑt.æʃ/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is the singular of the earlier plural [[pot-ashes]] (1648),^(Barnhart 1995)^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline) a loan translation of obsolete [[nl|potaschen|t=pot ashes]],^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(MW Collegiate)^(Klein 1966) from [[m|nl|pot|t=pot]] and [[m|nl|asch|t=ash]];^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) see [[pot]] and [[ash]].^(Etymonline) It is so called because the substance was first obtained by leaching wood ashes and evaporating the solution in an iron pot.^(AHD)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)^(Collins 2023) [[de|Pottasche]], [[da|potaske]] and [[sv|pottaska]] are also from Dutch,^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) and [[fr|potasse]] and [[it|potassa]] are Germanic loanwords.^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ An alkaline substance obtained by leaching the ashes of plants and evaporating the solution in pots, at first in the plural ''pot ashes'' (1648 in the OED and Barnhart).^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Hoad 1986)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The singular ''potash'' is recorded from 1751 and was applied especially to the purified carbonate.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline) Its sense history follows the progress of chemistry:^(OED 1989) by 1800 chemists used it for potassium hydroxide,^(OED 1989)^(Hoad 1986) and in names of compounds such as ''carbonate of potash'' it stood for what is now called potassium (1791).^(OED 1989) In 1807 Humphry Davy coined the name [[potassium]], from the Latinized form ''potassa'', for the metal that is the basis of potash.^(Hoad 1986)^(Weekley 1921) Johnson (1755) describes several commercial kinds, made from burnt wood, ferns and other plants, and used by soap and glass makers, bleachers and dyers.^(Johnson 1755) Today the word is used mainly of potassium salts mined for [[fertilizer]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1648 – ''pot ashes'', the crude alkali.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)

+ * 1751 – singular ''potash''.^(OED 1989)^(Barnhart 1995)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1791 – in names of compounds, = potassium.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1800 – potassium hydroxide.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1807 – Davy names ''potassium'' after it.^(Hoad 1986)

+ * 1843 – any of various soluble potassium salts.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Noun===

+ # [[potassium carbonate|alt=Potassium carbonate]], especially the impure form obtained from [[wood ash]].^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # [[potassium hydroxide|alt=Potassium hydroxide]].^(AHD)^(RHWU)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Any of several potassium compounds, such as potassium oxide or potassium chloride, used especially in [[fertilizer|alt=fertilizers]] and industry.^(AHD)^(MW Collegiate)^(RHWU)

+

+ ===Verb===

+ # To treat with potash.^(MWU 2024)^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[caustic potash]]

+ * [[potash alum]]

+ * [[sulfurated potash]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[potass]]

+ * [[potassa]]

+ * [[potassium]]

+ * [[pot]]

+ * [[ash]]

+ * [[pearl ash]]

+ * [[lye]]

+ * [[alkali]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}