Tar·tar / ˈtärtər/ • n. hist. a member of the combined forces of central Asian peoples, including Mongols and Turks, who under the leadership of Genghis Khan conquered much of Asia and eastern Europe in the early 13th century, and under Tamerlane (14th century) established an empire with its capital at Samarkand. See also Tatar. ∎  (tartar) a harsh, fierce, or intractable person: "Merciful God! but you're a tartar, miss!" said the sheriff, ruefully.DERIVATIVES: Tar·tar·i·an / tärˈte(ə)rēən/ adj.

tar·tar / ˈtärtər/ • n. a hard calcified deposit that forms on the teeth and contributes to their decay. ∎  a deposit of impure potassium hydrogen tartrate formed during the fermentation of wine. See also cream of tartar.DERIVATIVES: tar·tar·ic / tärˈtarik/ adj.

Tartar a member of the combined forces of central Asian peoples, including Mongols and Turks, who under the leadership of Genghis Khan conquered much of Asia and eastern Europe in the early 13th century, and under Tamerlane (14th century) established an empire with its capital at Samarkand.

tartar Hard gritty deposit of plaque and minerals that accumulates on and between teeth. Originally the name given by alchemists to animal and vegetable concretions, such as wine lees, stone, gravel, and deposits on teeth, since they were all attributed to the same cause.

tartar deposit of acid potassium tartrate adhering to the sides of wine casks. XIV. — medL. tartarum — medGr. tártaron, or unkn. orig.
Hence (or — F.) tartaric XVIII.