hartshorn

From hart +‎ -s- +‎ horn.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈhɑːtshɔːn/

hartshorn (countable and uncountable, plural hartshorns)

1. (countable) The antler of a hart, once used as a source of ammonia.
2. (dated) An aqueous solution of ammonia; smelling salts.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, chapter XIV, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book IV:

     Sophia, who had tottered along with much difficulty, sunk down in her chair; but by the assistance of hartshorn and water, she was prevented from fainting away...

   • 1777, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The School for Scandal, V.ii:

     Lady Teazle seeing Sir Peter in such Danger—ran out of the Room in strong Hysterics—and Charles after her calling out for Hartshorn and Water!

hartshorn (third-person singular simple present hartshorns, present participle hartshorning, simple past and past participle hartshorned)

1. (transitive) To revive with hartshorn smelling salts.
   • 1841 February–November, Charles Dickens, “Barnaby Rudge. Chapter 19.”, in Master Humphrey’s Clock, volume III, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC:

     Accordingly, after a vast amount of moaning and crying up-stairs, and much damping of foreheads, and vinegaring of temples, and hartshorning of noses, and so forth […]