potash

From Dutch potasch (modern spelling potas), coined in 1598. The literal translation is pot ash, because it was made by burning wood to ashes in a large pot. First attested in 1648.

• (US) IPA^(key): /pɒt.æʃ/

potash (countable and uncountable, plural potashes)

1. the water-soluble part of the ash formed by burning plant material; used for making soap, glass and as a fertilizer
2. (chemistry) an impure form of potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) mixed with other potassium salts
3. (chemistry, archaic) in the names of compounds of the form "... of potash", potassium (for example, "permanganate of potash" = potassium permanganate)

• potass
• potassa
• potassium

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