From the book
A Chymical Dictionary
Gerhard Dorn and John French · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordEarth- or mud-dwelling worms whose name is explained by slipperiness.
- In the bookNitrum is separately equated with saltpetre.
- A place to readThe historical definition below, 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 30; facsimile PDF page 358.
Historical definition
Lumbrici Nitri are worms found in earth or mud, so called because of their slipperiness.
Meaning
The explanation names a place where the creatures are found and a property said to account for their designation. It does not describe them as particles of nitre or establish a mineral composition from the word Nitri.
Use in the book
Nitrum is separately equated with saltpetre. The two entries demonstrate why an attached word cannot always be interpreted by importing the dictionary’s definition of a superficially similar independent headword.
Places to read
- Lumbrici NitriRead the complete historical definition and its commentary.
- NitrumA name for saltpetre.
Source note
Historical source. 1650 dictionary, unnumbered definition page 30; facsimile PDF page 358 — Facsimile
Sources. A Chymical Dictionary 1650, 1650 dictionary, facsimile PDF page 358, Lumbrici Nitri