Gunpowder ingredient (5)

I think it could be either:

nitre

niter

'gunpowder ingredient' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

This is all the clue.

(Other definitions for nitre that I've seen before include "explosive component" , "Inert (anag) - saltpetre" , "Chemical" , "food preservative" , "Sodium nitrate" .)

I've seen this clue in The New York Times and The Mirror.

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