lye

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a strongly alkaline solution, traditionally made by leaching water through wood ashes

   The soap maker combined rendered fat with lye under carefully controlled conditions.

2. 2
   noun

   sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, especially when used for cleaning or making soap

   Protective gloves are essential when handling concentrated lye.

3. 3
   verb

   to treat or wash something with lye

   Workers lyed the grain before the next stage of processing.

From Middle English lye and Old English leag ("lye"), from a Germanic word associated with washing. Cognates include German Lauge and Dutch loog.

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