a. [ AS. teart. √63. Cf. Tear, v. t. ] 1. Sharp to the taste; acid; sour; as, a tart apple. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Fig.: Sharp; keen; severe; as, a tart reply; tart language; a tart rebuke. [ 1913 Webster ]

Why art thou tart, my brother? Bunyan. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. tarte, F. tarte; perhaps originally the same word as tourte, LL. torta, fr. L. tortus, p. p. of torquere to twist, bend, wind, because tarts were originally made of a twisted shape. Cf. Torture, n. ] A species of small open pie, or piece of pastry, containing jelly or conserve; a sort of fruit pie. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. tiretane linsey-woolsey, akin to Sp. tiritaña a sort of thin silk; cf. Sp. tiritar to shiver or shake with cold. ] Woolen cloth, checkered or crossbarred with narrow bands of various colors, much worn in the Highlands of Scotland; hence, any pattern of tartan; also, other material of a similar pattern. [ 1913 Webster ]

MacCullummore's heart will be as cold as death can make it, when it does not warm to the tartan. Sir W. Scott. [ 1913 Webster ]

The sight of the tartan inflamed the populace of London with hatred. Macaulay. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. tartane, or Sp., Pg., or It. tartana; all perhaps of Arabic origin. ] (Naut.) A small coasting vessel, used in the Mediterranean, having one mast carrying large leteen sail, and a bowsprit with staysail or jib. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. tartre (cf. Pr. tartari, Sp., Pg., & It. tartaro, LL. tartarum, LGr. &unr_;); perhaps of Arabic origin. ] 1. (Chem.) A reddish crust or sediment in wine casks, consisting essentially of crude cream of tartar, and used in marking pure cream of tartar, tartaric acid, potassium carbonate, black flux, etc., and, in dyeing, as a mordant for woolen goods; -- called also argol, wine stone, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A correction which often incrusts the teeth, consisting of salivary mucus, animal matter, and phosphate of lime. [ 1913 Webster ]

Cream of tartar. (Chem.) See under Cream. --
Tartar emetic (Med. Chem.), a double tartrate of potassium and basic antimony. It is a poisonous white crystalline substance having a sweetish metallic taste, and used in medicine as a sudorific and emetic. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. [ Per. Tātār, of Tartar origin. ] A native or inhabitant of Tartary in Asia; a member of any one of numerous tribes, chiefly Moslem, of Turkish origin, inhabiting the Russian Europe; -- written also, more correctly but less usually, Tatar. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A person of a keen, irritable temper. [ 1913 Webster ]

To catch a tartar, to lay hold of, or encounter, a person who proves too strong for the assailant. [ Colloq. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to Tartary in Asia, or the Tartars. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. tartare. ] See Tartarus. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Chem.) Tartrated. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ L. tartareus: cf. F. tartaréen. ] Of or pertaining to Tartarus; hellish. [ 1913 Webster ]