2  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Potash  \Pot"ash`\,  n.  [Pot  +  ash.]  (Chem.) 
  a  The  hydroxide  of  potassium  hydrate,  a  hard  white  brittle 
  substance,  {KOH},  having  strong  caustic  and  alkaline 
  properties;  --  hence  called  also  {caustic  potash}. 
  b  The  impure  potassium  carbonate  obtained  by  leaching  wood 
  ashes,  either  as  a  strong  solution  (lye),  or  as  a  white 
  crystalline  (pearlash). 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Caustic  \Caus"tic\,  Caustical  \Caus"tic*al\,  a.  [L.  caustucs 
  Ge  ?,  fr  ?  to  burn.  Cf  {Calm},  {Ink}.] 
  1.  Capable  of  destroying  the  texture  of  anything  or  eating 
  away  its  substance  by  chemical  action  burning;  corrosive; 
  searing. 
 
  2.  Severe;  satirical;  sharp;  as  a  caustic  remark. 
 
  {Caustic  curve}  (Optics),  a  curve  to  which  the  ray  of  light, 
  reflected  or  refracted  by  another  curve,  are  tangents,  the 
  reflecting  or  refracting  curve  and  the  luminous  point 
  being  in  one  plane. 
 
  {Caustic  lime}.  See  under  {Lime}. 
 
  {Caustic  potash},  {Caustic  soda}  (Chem.),  the  solid 
  hydroxides  potash,  {KOH},  and  soda,  {NaOH},  or  solutions 
  of  the  same 
 
  {Caustic  silver},  nitrate  of  silver,  lunar  caustic. 
 
  {Caustic  surface}  (Optics),  a  surface  to  which  rays  reflected 
  or  refracted  by  another  surface  are  tangents.  Caustic 
  curves  and  surfaces  are  called  catacaustic  when  formed  by 
  reflection,  and  diacaustic  when  formed  by  refraction. 
 
  Syn:  Stinging;  cutting;  pungent;  searching. 

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