[ adj ] relating to or derived from or resembling tartar <adj.pert> tartaric acid
Tartarian \Tar*ta"ri*an\, Tartaric \Tar*tar"ic\, a. Of or pertaining to Tartary in Asia, or the Tartars.
{Tartarian lamb} (Bot.), Scythian lamb. See {Barometz}.
Tartaric \Tar*tar"ic\, a. (Chem.) Of or pertaining to tartar; derived from, or resembling, tartar.
{Tartaric acid}. (a) An acid widely diffused throughout the vegetable kingdom, as in grapes, mountain-ash berries, etc., and obtained from tartar as a white crystalline substance, {C2H2(OH)2.(CO2H)2}, having a strong pure acid taste. It is used in medicine, in dyeing, calico printing, photography, etc., and also as a substitute for lemon juice. Called also {dextro-tartaric acid}. (b) By extension, any one of the series of isomeric acids (racemic acid, levotartaric acid, inactive tartaric acid) of which tartaric acid proper is the type.
I am buying up all the tartaric acid that I can and the nice pharmacist at Boots has ordered in readiness for next year. But why should it be so difficult to find something so innocent? PS.