amole

American  

[uh-moh-ley, ah-maw-le] / əˈmoʊ leɪ, ɑˈmɔ lɛ /

noun

Southwestern U.S.

plural

amoles

1. the root of any of several plants, as Mexican species of agaves, used as a substitute for soap.

2. any such plant itself.

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Etymology

Origin of amole

< Mexican Spanish < Nahuatl ahmōlli soap

Example Sentences

The only times he has gone hunting was for wild swine, he said, partly because the pigs were killing the purple amole, an endangered purple flower that grows in central California.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 1, 2022

When you reach the place where your left hand feels empty without a piece of bread in it, just butter up another amole and try it.

From Her Father's Daughter by Stratton-Porter, Gene

We take our choice today between finding deer-brush and digging for amole, because the mock oranges aren't ripe enough to be nice and soapy yet.

From Her Father's Daughter by Stratton-Porter, Gene

At the right of her drawing Linda sketched in a fine specimen of monkey flower, deepening the yellow from the hearts of the amole lilies for the almost human little monkey faces.

From Her Father's Daughter by Stratton-Porter, Gene

Their food is amole, bellota and pinole and their chiefs are called Mule and Yuma.

From The Aboriginal Population of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, California by Cook, Sherburne Friend