suint

American  

[soo-int, swint] / ˈsu ɪnt, swɪnt /

noun

1. the natural grease of the wool of sheep, consisting of a mixture of fatty matter and potassium salts, used as a source of potash and in the preparation of ointments.

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suint British  

/ ˈsuːɪnt, swɪnt /

noun

1. a water-soluble substance found in the fleece of sheep, consisting of peptides, organic acids, metal ions, and inorganic cations and formed from dried perspiration

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Etymology

Origin of suint

1785–95; < French, Middle French, equivalent to su ( er ) to sweat (< Latin sūdāre; see sweat) + -in suffix of mass nouns (as in crottin dung); -t after oint, past participle of oindre to rub with oil, anoint

Example Sentences

German chemist has patented the waterproofing of finely woven fabrics, linen, cotton, etc., by means of suint composition.

From Scientific American, Volume XXXVI., No. 8, February 24, 1877 A Weekly Journal of Practical Information, Art, Science, Mechanics, Chemistry, and Manufactures. by Various

The "yolk" or "suint" of wool, originating from the perspiration of the animal, has long been a source of crude potash.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius

The wool suint consists largely of the potash soaps of oleic and stearic acids.

From The Dyeing of Woollen Fabrics by Beech, Franklin

It has not the composition of ordinary suint, inasmuch as it contains no carbonate of potash, and indeed little mineral matter of any kind.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 447, July 26, 1884 by Various

Wool in its unwashed state contains a considerable proportion of what is termed suint.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 447, July 26, 1884 by Various