Dear belMarduk: I honestly don't know about use of tartar in cream of tartar, or sauces.
I'll look that up separately. Thanks for the suggestion.

Caucus A meeting of citizens in America to agree upon what members they intend to support, and to
concert measures for carrying out their political wishes. The word arose from the caulkers of Boston, who
had a dispute with the British soldiers a little before the Revolution. Several citizens were killed, and
meetings were held at the caulkers' house or calk-house, to concert measures for redress of grievances.

Every year, fairly early in the fall, crows congregate in very large numbers, and make a hell of a racket,
just before the go south. My father used to call that "crow caucus".