Soapberries

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A type of fruit known for its foamy properties used in natural cleaning products
2. Referring to the berries from certain plants that produce a lather when mixed with water, used traditionally for washing
3. The edible berries that can create suds and are often utilized in homemade soap alternatives and natural cosmetics

Etymology: "Soapberries" is simply the plural of "soapberry," which describes the fleshy fruit of certain plants that foam when rubbed with water. The name is a plain compound of "soap" and "berry," and it refers to the way the pulp was put to work: the fruit was used in washing linen, producing a lather without any manufactured soap. The "berry" element carries its usual sense of a small fleshy fruit, while "soap" supplies the function. In other words, the word names a fruit by what people did with it rather than by its appearance or taste, so the plant is identified by its household use.