soap plant

American  

noun

1. a Californian plant, Chlorogalum pomeridianum, of the lily family, the bulb of which was used by the Indians as a soap.

2. any of various other plants having parts that can be used as a soap.

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Etymology

Origin of soap plant

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

Example Sentences

At 26, he was sent abroad to help take over a small soap plant in England, there got a good education in a diversity of problems: manufacturing, purchasing, delivery.

From Time Magazine Archive

Another variety of yucca is the amole, or soap plant.

From Arizona Sketches by Munk, J. A. (Joseph Amasa)

No soap plant is, therefore, fully equipped unless it has some method whereby the glycerine is recovered and the importance of recovering this product cannot be too strongly emphasized.

From Soap-Making Manual A Practical Handbook on the Raw Materials, Their Manipulation, Analysis and Control in the Modern Soap Plant. by Thomssen, E. G.

Besides the various apparatus mentioned above there are many other parts for the full equipment of a modern soap plant, such as remelters, pumps, mixers, special tanks, power equipment, etc.

From Soap-Making Manual A Practical Handbook on the Raw Materials, Their Manipulation, Analysis and Control in the Modern Soap Plant. by Thomssen, E. G.

One of them is called the soap plant.

From St. Nicholas Magazine for Boys and Girls, Vol. 5, September 1878, No. 11 by Dodge, Mary Mapes