Word Confusion: Tartar vs Tartare vs Tarter

Posted September 24, 2015 by Kathy Davie in Author Resources, Self-Editing, Word Confusions, Writing

Revised as of 27 January 2020

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I fell into this one with a story in which one character is telling another (who is encased in a seaweed wrap) that she’s getting out the tarter sauce. It made me wonder, which sauce was the less tart one?

Then, as I was exploring this word confusion, I suddenly remembered steak tartare…and had to promptly go eat something —

I can’t decide…a ceviche starter followed by a tartare aller-retour and tidy it off with a strawberry shortcake with lots of whipped cream…?

Yep, there are too many yummy definitions in this one!

Word Confusions…

…started as my way of dealing with a professional frustration with properly spelled words that were out of context in manuscripts I was editing as well as books I was reviewing. It evolved into a sharing of information with y’all. I’m hoping you’ll share with us words that have been a bête noir for you from either end. Consider sharing this Word Confusion with friends by tweeting it.

Tartar	Tartare	Tarter
Credit to: Apple Dictionary.com; Dictionary.com; Oxford Learner’s Dictionary: tartare; Grammarist: “Tartar or tartare“
Fish and Chips with Beer is Pessimist’s own work and in the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons. — A traditional English meal of fish and chips, with beer, tartar sauce, and salt and vinegar crisps.	Tartar Milano is Melirius’ own work under the CC BY-SA 3.0 license, via Wikimedia Commons. — A presentation of steak tartare in Milan.	Poolside Lemonade by Jill Wellington is under the Pixabay License, via Pixabay. — Add sugar to lessen the tart taste.
Part of Grammar:
Noun ¹, ² Plural: tartar	Adjective, postpositive Noun Plural for the noun: tartare	Comparative adjective
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 [North American; in combination as tartar sauce] A thick cold white sauce made from mayonnaise, chopped onions and capers, usually eaten with fish [Historical; always with an initial capital] 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) who established an empire with its capital at Samarkand A harsh, fierce, or intractable person One who proves to be unexpectedly formidable [Usually in combination as cream of tartar] A substance left behind after wine fermentation	Adjective: [Of beef] A dish consisting of raw ground steak mixed with raw egg, onion, and seasonings [Of fish] Fish served raw, typically seasoned and shaped into small cakes or a mound Noun: A dish of raw flesh [British; in combination as tartare sauce] A thick cold white sauce made from mayonnaise, chopped onions and capers, usually eaten with fish	Adjective: Sharp or acid in taste [Of a remark or tone of voice] Cutting, bitter, or sarcastic
Examples:
There is too much tartar build-up on your teeth. We’ll have to schedule you for a deeper clean. Tartar is also known as cream of tartar, a useful ingredient in baking, candymaking, and whipping cream. I adore tartar sauce with my fried fish! The Tartars almost conquered Europe back in the day. Jesus, he’s a regular tartar! “Merciful god! but you’re a tartar, miss!” said the sheriff, ruefully.	Adjective: It’s steak tartare tonight. The specialty of the house is steak tartare. Steak tartare is only similar to carpaccio in that both use raw beef. Tuna tartare is made of raw tuna and similar to ahi sashimi. Noun: Ceviche is a type of tartare as is poke. It was a succulent and creamy entrée of crispy grilled veal sweetbreads with potatoes and tartare.	Adjective: These lemons are tarter than I expected. Which do you think is tarter? SweeTarts or Smarties? Man, she’s tarter than I remember.
Derivatives:
Adjective: tartaric, Tartarian		Adjective: tart, tartish, tarty Adverb: tartishly, tartly Noun: tartness
History of the Word:
First known use was in the 14th century. Late Middle English via medieval Latin from the medieval Greek tartaron, which is of unknown origin. From the Old French Tartare or the medieval Latin Tartarus, and a modification of the Persian Tātār.	First known use was in 1911. French and literally meaning Tartar.	The Old English teart meaning harsh or severe is of unknown origin.