hartshorn

noun

harts·​horn ˈhärts-ˌhȯrn 

: a preparation of ammonia used as smelling salts

Examples of hartshorn in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

When dried, the substance looks like table salt and was initially called the salt of hartshorn — named for the horns of male deer from which it was commonly derived in the 17th century. —Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from the earlier use of hart's horns as the chief source of ammonia

First Known Use

1685, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hartshorn

• adorn
• airborne
• blackthorn
• broomcorn
• buckhorn
• buckthorn
• careworn
• firstborn
• foodborne
• forborne
• forewarn
• forlorn

Medical Definition

hartshorn

noun

harts·​horn ˈhärts-ˌhȯ(ə)rn 

: a preparation of ammonia used as smelling salts see spirit of hartshorn