\Tar"tar\, n. [F. tartre (cf. Pr. tartari, Sp., Pg., &
It. tartaro, LL. tartarum, LGr. ?); perhaps of Arabic
origin.]
1. (Chem.) A reddish crust or sediment in wine casks,
   consisting essentially of crude cream of tartar, and used
   in marking pure cream of tartar, tartaric acid, potassium
   carbonate, black flux, etc., and, in dyeing, as a mordant
   for woolen goods; -- called also {argol}, {wine stone},
   etc.
2. A correction which often incrusts the teeth, consisting of
   salivary mucus, animal matter, and phosphate of lime.
{Cream of tartar}. (Chem.) See under {Cream}.
{Tartar emetic} (Med. Chem.), a double tartrate of potassium
   and basic antimony. It is a poisonous white crystalline
   substance having a sweetish metallic taste, and used in
   medicine as a sudorific and emetic.

\Tar"tar\, n.
1. [Per. T[=a]t[=a]r, of Tartar origin.] A native or
   inhabitant of Tartary in Asia; a member of any one of
   numerous tribes, chiefly Moslem, of Turkish origin,
   inhabiting the Russian Europe; -- written also, more
   correctly but less usually, {Tatar}.
2. A person of a keen, irritable temper.
{To catch a tartar}, to lay hold of, or encounter, a person
   who proves too strong for the assailant. [Colloq.]

\Tar"tar\, a.
Of or pertaining to Tartary in Asia, or the Tartars.

\Tar"tar\, n. [Cf. F. tartare.]
See {Tartarus}. --Shak.