Plural of tartar: a hard, crusty deposit that forms on teeth from plaque, or a Tartar person from Central Asia.
From Persian 'Tatar' referring to Mongol/Turkic peoples; Latin 'tartarum' for tooth deposit from Greek 'tartaron'. Two distinct etymology paths merged into one word.
Tartar sauce has nothing to do with dental tartar—it's named after the Tartars/Tatars, originally a Mediterranean condiment idea associated with that region, then applied to any sharp sauce.
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