fuller's earth

noun

1. an absorbent clay, used especially for removing grease from fabrics, in fulling cloth, as a filter, and as a dusting powder.

fuller's earth

noun

1. a natural absorbent clay used, after heating, for decolorizing oils and fats, fulling cloth, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of fuller's earth¹

First recorded in 1515–25

Example Sentences

Pointing to a section of the north wall overlooking the river, Sharma said that workers had recently applied the clay mixture known as fuller's earth, traditionally used as a bleaching agent to absorb oil and grease from sheep's wool.

From Los Angeles Times

Scaling the walls on scaffolds, workers plaster the surfaces with Fuller's earth, a mud paste that absorbs dirt, grease, and animal excrement.

From BBC

The furor seems to have passed — the Taj is now receiving a more friendly mud-slinging, namely a cleaning with a soil-based poultice named Fuller’s earth.

From Washington Post

To remove discoloration, workers suspended on scaffolding are caking Fuller’s earth — a mud paste that absorbs dirt, grease and animal excrement, and that is commonly used to treat skin impurities — on the entire monument.

From New York Times

Called fuller’s earth, it’s the same clay that some people smother on their skin as a beauty treatment.

From Washington Times