tartar

A red compound deposited during wine making, mostly potassium hydrogen tartrate; wine stone — a source of cream of tartar.countableuncountable

• In order to preserve it in the state of protoxide these receipts prescribe various deoxygenating substances to be stirred into the melted glass, such as Smith's clinkers, tartar, soot, rotten wood, and cinnibar.

A hard yellow deposit on the teeth, formed from dental plaque.countableuncountable

A fearsome or angrily violent person.dated

• Mrs. Begg said she liked Mrs. Dain, who was a sensible woman and a first-rate housewife, but that Gabrielle was a tartar.