HARTSHORN Meaning and
Definition
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Hartshorn, also known as ammonium carbonate or baker's ammonia, is a white crystalline substance that is commonly used in food preparation and in particular in baking. It is a mixture of two salts, ammonium bicarbonate and ammonium carbamate. The name "hartshorn" is derived from the Old English word "hertshorn," meaning deer's antlers, as it was initially produced from the horns of male deer.
Hartshorn has a pungent odor and taste, resembling the smell of ammonia, which dissipates during baking. It is primarily used as a leavening agent in recipes where a strong rise is desired. When heated, hartshorn releases gas, specifically carbon dioxide, which causes dough or batter to expand and rise. This results in a light, crispy texture in baked goods, such as cookies and crackers.
In addition to baking, hartshorn has a range of other applications. It is used in traditional medicine to treat certain ailments, such as heartburn or digestive issues, due to its alkaline properties. Furthermore, hartshorn is utilized as a cleaning agent, especially in restoring antique books and artwork. It can help remove stains or discoloration without causing damage to delicate materials.
While hartshorn was historically derived from animal sources, modern production methods have shifted towards synthetic manufacturing. This allows for a more sustainable and consistent source of hartshorn, no longer requiring the use of animal byproducts.
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Aqua ammoniae; any volatile ammonium salt, such as the carbonate.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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The horn of the hart; a medicinal substance originally obtained from the horn of the hart.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for HARTSHORN
- gartshorn
- bartshorn
- nartshorn
- jartshorn
- uartshorn
- yartshorn
- hzrtshorn
- hsrtshorn
- hwrtshorn
- hqrtshorn
- haetshorn
- hadtshorn
- haftshorn
- hattshorn
- ha5tshorn
- ha4tshorn
- harrshorn
- harfshorn
- hargshorn
Etymology of HARTSHORN
The word "Hartshorn" originated from Middle English and has a combination of two parts: "hart" and "shorn".
1. "Hart": The term "hart" refers to a male deer, particularly a stag. It derives from Old English "heorot" and can be traced back to Proto-Germanic "herutaz" meaning "deer". The term "hart" was commonly used in relation to different species of deer, including the red deer and the fallow deer.
2. "Shorn": The word "shorn" is the past participle of the verb "shear", which means to cut or remove something, particularly wool or hair, from an animal. The term can be traced back to Old English "scearan", which shares its root with Old Norse "skera".
Similar spelling words for HARTSHORN
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