amole

American  

[uh-moh-ley, ah-maw-le] / əˈmoʊ leɪ, ɑˈmɔ lɛ /

noun

Southwestern U.S.

plural

amoles

1. the root of any of several plants, as Mexican species of agaves, used as a substitute for soap.

2. any such plant itself.

---

Etymology

Origin of amole

< Mexican Spanish < Nahuatl ahmōlli soap

Example Sentences

The only times he has gone hunting was for wild swine, he said, partly because the pigs were killing the purple amole, an endangered purple flower that grows in central California.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 1, 2022

They washed their clothing with a soapy root,—the amole, now similarly used by Indians and Mexicans throughout the Southwest.

From The Spanish Pioneers by Lummis, Charles F.

His gaze travelled toward the other horse, studying every bunch of mesquite and questioning every clump of amole and yucca that grew between.

From The Delafield Affair by Kelly, Florence Finch

She knew how to prepare the amole for roasting.

From Her Father's Daughter by Stratton-Porter, Gene

On the left one giant specimen of amole, reared from a base of exquisitely waving leaves, ran up the side of the drawing and broke into an airy and graceful head of gold-hearted white lilies.

From Her Father's Daughter by Stratton-Porter, Gene