A salter was a very important tradesperson in history because salt was used to preserve food. Before refrigerators existed, people needed salt to keep meat and fish fresh. The word comes from the Old English word 'sealt' meaning salt.
The salter sold bags of salt at the market.
Many salters lived near the coast in old times.
This meaning refers to a person who adds salt to food as part of their job, especially in factories or workshops that cure meat and fish. The job requires knowing exactly how much salt to use so the food tastes good and stays safe. This role was very common before modern food technology.
The salter prepared the fish for long storage.
A skilled salter knows how much salt to add.
In this meaning, a salter is a small dish or box used to hold salt at the dining table. In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, salters were often made from precious metals and were a sign of wealth. Sitting near the salter at the table showed that you were an important guest.
She placed the silver salter on the dinner table.
The old salter was made of beautiful gold.
Salter is a common English last name that originally came from the occupation of selling or making salt. Many English surnames were created this way during the Middle Ages, when people were named after their jobs. Famous people with this surname include various politicians, writers, and businesspeople.
Mr. Salter works as a teacher at our school.
The Salter family has lived here for many years.
A salter in this context is a machine or vehicle attachment that spreads salt or grit on icy roads and footpaths to prevent accidents. This type of salter is very commonly used by local councils and road maintenance crews during cold weather. It helps melt ice and makes roads safer for drivers and pedestrians.
The city used a salter to keep roads safe in winter.
The salter truck went out early in the morning.
In the context of heraldry, the word salter is related to the term 'saltire,' which is a diagonal cross shape resembling the letter X. This design appears on many coats of arms and national flags, such as the flag of Scotland. The term is very specialized and mostly used by experts in heraldry and historical symbolism.
The knight's shield showed a bold salter design.
A salter pattern appeared on the old family crest.
The Worshipful Company of Salters is one of the oldest trade guilds in the City of London, founded in the medieval period to regulate the salt trade. A member of this company is called a Salter. Today the company is mainly a charitable organization and no longer controls the salt trade, but it still holds historic ceremonies and supports education.
He became a Salter after joining the London guild.
The Salters held their annual dinner in the city.
This is a very informal and sometimes humorous way to describe someone who puts a lot of salt on their food without tasting it first. It is used in casual conversation and is not a formal dictionary word. People might use it to tease a friend or family member who always reaches for the salt shaker.
My dad is a real salter — he salts everything!
Don't be a salter; the food already tastes great.
