Synonyms:
lye
Meaning: a strong solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide
Usage examples
In the course of a week, fill the barrel with weak lye.
The succeeding day, separate it from the lye, and heat it over a slow fire.
This method of making soap is much easier than to make a lye of your ashes, while it is as cheap, if you sell your ashes to the soap-boiler.
If you wish to have it a yellow color, put in a little palm oil, and turn it out into wooden vessels. When cold, separate it again from the lye, and cut, it in bars--let them remain in the sun several days to dry.