[a. late L. borith, a. Heb. bōrīth, rendered in A. V. ‘sope’; earlier versions followed the Vulgate in retaining the Heb. word.] A plant yielding an alkali used for cleansing (? Saponaria officinalis).
1382. Wyclif, Jerem. ii. 22. If thou wasshez thee with clensing cley, and multeplie to thee the clensende erbe boreth [1388 borith. 1535 Coverdale herbe of Borith].
1468. Medulla Gramm., Boryth, Ffullere gres.
1552. Abp. Hamilton, Catech. (1884), 23. The herbe callit Borith quhilk hais greit vertue of clenging.
1678. Bp. Gloucester, Expos. Catech., 171. It is no water-work, no, not if you put to it Nitre, much sope, Fullers-earth, or Borith.
1730. in Bailey.
