soapberry
(ˈsəʊpbɛrɪ)
Also soap-berry, soap berry.
[soap n.]
1. The fruit or nut of various species of Sapindus (esp. S. Saponaria), or of Acacia concinna, used in certain countries as a substitute for soap; a soap-nut.
| 1693 Phil. Trans. XVII. 621 The Sope-Berry, which is properly a Plumm, or between Nut and Plumm. 1819 Pantologia X, Saponaria nucula,..soap berries. A spherical fruit, about the size of a cherry. 1858 Mayne Expos. Lex. 118/2 Bermuda Berry, common name for the soap-nut, or soap-berry produced by the Sapindus saponaria. |
2. a. One or other of the trees bearing this fruit.
| 1716 Petiveriana i. 222 Soap-berry,..Arbor Saponaria. 1760 J. Lee Introd. Bot. App. 327 Soap Berry, Sapindus. 1871 Kingsley At Last xi, There is a young one fruiting finely in the Botanic Garden at Port of Spain.., a cousin of the Matapalos and of the Soap-berries. 1874 Stewart & Brandis Flora N. West India 108 S[apindus] Saponaria,..the West Indian Soapberry, is grown in the West Indies. |
c. N. Amer. A deciduous shrub, Shepherdia canadensis, of the family Elæagnaceæ, native to North America, and bearing small yellow flowers followed by edible red berries; also, the berries of this shrub; = buffalo-berry s.v. buffalo 5.
| 1904 A. G. Morice Hist. N. Interior Brit. Columbia 61 The soap-berries were ripening. 1923 Beaver Dec. 104 In Central British Columbia it [sc. Indian ice cream] was made by working to a lather the dried soap berry. 1957 J. R. & I. M. Christie Story Okanagan Falls 42 Soap⁓berry..bears its gay red-currant-like berries now only for the birds to enjoy. 1963 Beaver Autumn 40/1 The interior fresh-water Indians..readily gave soapberries, kinninnick leaves and bark for smoking. |
3. attrib., as soapberry family, soapberry tree.
| 1725 Sloane Jamaica II. 132 Sope-berry Tree. 1753 Chambers' Cycl. Suppl. s.v. Sapindus, There is only one known species of this genus,..the soapberry tree. 1819 Pantologia X, Sapindus rigidus, ash-leaved soap-berry tree... A native of the West Indies and America. 1847 Darlington Amer. Weeds, etc. (1860) 87 Sapindaceæ. Soap⁓berry Family... Fruit capsular or berry-like. 1866 Veness El Dorado xi. 119 The root, bark, and seed covering of the huruwassa or soap berry tree is an admirable substitute for soap. |