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noun

salter

Salter (noun) means someone whose trade is making, selling, or applying salt. Example: “The old salter sold his cured fish at the harbour market every Friday.”

noun
1
Someone whose trade is making, selling, or applying salt.
"The old salter sold his cured fish at the harbour market every Friday."
"In medieval towns, the salter often worked closely with the local butcher and fishmonger."
2
A trout that has left salt water and is swimming back up a river to spawn.
"Anglers waited by the weir for the first salter of the season to appear."

How to use salter

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishMost often it just means someone in the salt trade; the fish sense is a specialist, mostly British angling term.

Common mistake

It also exists as a common surname (Salter) — don't assume every use is the job title or fish sense.

Common pairings
a salter's trade the returning salter

Word forms

salters plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The old _____ sold his cured fish at the harbour market every Friday.

Etymology

From "salt" plus the agent suffix "-er" — literally "one who works with salt."

salt merchant

Rhymes for salter

See all rhymes for salter →

Frequently asked questions

What does “salter” mean?

The word “salter” means someone whose trade is making, selling, or applying salt. In plain terms, most often it just means someone in the salt trade; the fish sense is a specialist, mostly British angling term.

How do you use “salter” in a sentence?

Here is “salter” used in a sentence: “The old salter sold his cured fish at the harbour market every Friday.”

What part of speech is “salter”?

“Salter” is a noun.

How many meanings does “salter” have?

“Salter” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: someone whose trade is making, selling, or applying salt.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial