suint

[ soo-int, swint ]

noun

1. the natural grease of the wool of sheep, consisting of a mixture of fatty matter and potassium salts, used as a source of potash and in the preparation of ointments.

suint

/ ˈsuːɪnt; swɪnt /

noun

1. a water-soluble substance found in the fleece of sheep, consisting of peptides, organic acids, metal ions, and inorganic cations and formed from dried perspiration

Word History and Origins

Origin of suint¹

1785–95; < French, Middle French, equivalent to su ( er ) to sweat (< Latin sūdāre; sweat ) + -in suffix of mass nouns (as in crottin dung); -t after oint, past participle of oindre to rub with oil, anoint

Word History and Origins

Origin of suint¹

C18: from French suer to sweat, from Latin sūdāre

Example Sentences

Suint, swint, n. the natural grease of wool.

From Project Gutenberg

The "yolk" or "suint" of wool, originating from the perspiration of the animal, has long been a source of crude potash.

From Project Gutenberg

All unwashed wool contains a fatty or greasy matter called yolk or suint.

From Project Gutenberg

The washing of wool is in the main a mechanical process, in which the water dissolves out the suint while the soap emulsifies the yolk and thus removes it from the fibre.

From Project Gutenberg

The wool suint consists largely of the potash soaps of oleic and stearic acids.

From Project Gutenberg