hartshorn

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   dated: a solution or preparation of ammonia formerly used as smelling salts

   The attendant held hartshorn beneath the fainting woman's nose.

2. 2
   noun

   the antler of a mature male deer, formerly heated or distilled to obtain ammonia compounds

   Apothecaries once distilled shavings of hartshorn to make pungent medicinal preparations.

3. 3
   verb

   historical: to revive someone with hartshorn smelling salts

   The servants tried to hartshorn the unconscious guest before the doctor arrived.

From hart's horn, the antler of an adult male deer. Distilling antler yielded pungent ammonia compounds, so hartshorn became the name of the resulting medicinal preparation and smelling salts. The rare verb means to revive someone with that preparation.

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