Also soapsuds. [SOAP sb.] Water impregnated with dissolved soap, esp. water in which clothes have been washed.
1611. Cotgr., Savonné,… frothie like sope-suds, or a lather of sope.
1616. Surfl. & Markh., Countrey Farme, 162. For the speedie growing of hearbes,… there is nothing in the world better … than Sope suds.
a. 1700. Evelyn, Diary, 15 April 1652. It has been … spoil’d by washing it ignorantly with soap-suds.
1707. Mortimer, Husb. (1721), I. 120. The moistning of them [sc. dry ashes] with … Soap-suds will add mightily to their strength.
1771. Mrs. Haywood, New Present for Maid, 256. Silver-plate ought to be washed with soap-suds.
1848. Dickens, Dombey, ix. A widow-lady, with her sleeves rolled up … and her arms frothy with soap-suds.
1884. Knight, Dict. Mech., Suppl. 879/2. Make a strong soapsuds, using hot water.
Hence Soap-sudsy a. (Cf. SOAP-SUDDY.)
1854. Lowell, Jrnl. in Italy, Prose Wks. 1890, I. 215. A scanty rill of soapsudsy liquid.
