loofah

American  

[loo-fuh] / ˈlu fə /

Also loofa,

noun

1. Also called rag gourd.  Also called dishcloth gourd. 

   1. any of several tropical vines of the genus Luffa, of the gourd family, bearing large, elongated fruit.

   2. the fruit of such a vine.

2. Also called vegetable sponge.  the dried, fibrous interior of this fruit, used as a sponge.

---

loofah British  

/ ˈluːfə /

noun

1. the fibrous interior of the fruit of the dishcloth gourd, which is dried, bleached, and used as a bath sponge or for scrubbing

2. another name for dishcloth gourd

---

Etymology

Origin of loofah

First recorded in 1860–65; from New Latin Luffa the genus, from Arabic lūf

Example Sentences

Vellabox's high-quality candles are a great, affordable gesture that come in an array of luxury and seasonal scents, along with hand lotion, a loofah, and other surprise gifts.

From The Verge • Nov. 15, 2021

“If the loofah doesn’t dry completely, the moist environment invites bacterial growth,” she adds.

From Washington Post • Nov. 9, 2020

Pour a generous glug into a bath, soak for about 20 minutes, then use a loofah to scrub off the dead skin.

From Slate • Dec. 31, 2018

Kudos to Sharna Burgess for finding a lighter side underneath all that sobriety and for wearing an elegant dress on top of a poofy pink loofah during a “Pride and Joy” foxtrot.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 16, 2014

My hair explodes out in a loofah of wild ringlets.

From "The Last Cuentista" by Donna Barba Higuera