potash Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a potassium compound often used in agriculture and industry
    caustic potash; potassium hydroxide.

WordNet


Pot"ash` noun
Etymology
Pot + ash.
Definitions
  1. (Chem.) (a) The hydroxide of potassium hydrate, a hard white brittle substance, KOH, having strong caustic and alkaline properties; -- hence called also caustic potash. (b) The impure potassium carbonate obtained by leaching wood ashes, either as a strong solution (lye), or as a white crystalline (pearlash).

Webster 1913