‖ savonette
(ˈsævɔnɛt)
Also 8 savonet.
[Fr. (now written savonnette), dim. of savon soap: see -et1.]
(See quots.)
| 1706 Phillips (ed. Kersey), Savonet, (Fr.) a Wash-Ball or other sort of Compound, to wash the Face or Hands with. 1866 Cooley Toilet 438 Savonettes; Soap balls; Wash Balls..are made of any of the mild toilet-soaps, scented at will, generally with the addition of powdered starch or farina, and sometimes, sand. |
b. savonette-tree [= F. arbre à savonnettes], a W. Indian tree, Pithecolobium micradenium, the bark of which is used as a substitute for soap.
| 1864 Grisebach Flora W. Ind. Islands 787. |