Sap·o·nin n.  Chem. A poisonous glucoside found in many plants, as in the root of soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), in the bark of soap bark (Quillaja saponaria), etc.  It is extracted as a white amorphous powder, which produces a soapy lather in solution, and produces a local anaesthesia.  It is used as a detergent and for emulsifying oils.  Formerly called also struthiin, quillaiin, senegin, polygalic acid, etc. By extension, any one of a group of related bodies of which saponin proper is the type.

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 Soap·wort n. Bot. A common plant (Saponaria officinalis) of the Pink family; -- so called because its bruised leaves, when agitated in water, produce a lather like that from soap. Called also Bouncing Bet.

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 Boun·cing a.
 1. Stout; plump and healthy; lusty; buxom.
    Many tall and bouncing young ladies.   --Thackeray.
 2. Excessive; big. “A bouncing reckoning.”
 Bouncing Bet Bot., the common soapwort (Saponaria officinalis).

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 Full·er n.  One whose occupation is to full cloth.
 Fuller's earth, a variety of clay, used in scouring and cleansing cloth, to imbibe grease.
 Fuller's herb Bot., the soapwort (Saponaria officinalis), formerly used to remove stains from cloth.
 Fuller's thistle or Fuller's weed Bot., the teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) whose burs are used by fullers in dressing cloth. See Teasel.


 Saponaria officinalis
      n : plant of European origin having pink or white flowers and
          leaves yielding a detergent when bruised [syn: soapwort,
           hedge pink, bouncing Bet, bouncing Bess]