Saponin
/ˈsæp.ə.nɪn/noun
A plant-derived glycoside that produces soap-like foam in water and can be toxic or irritating in high amounts.
Did you know?Saponin was named because many plants containing it were used like soap, from Latin *sapo* meaning “soap,” and the same root also gave English *soap* itself.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Latin
Latin
sapo
“soap”
Late Latin
Latin
sapon-
“soap, soap-like substance”
19th Century
French
saponine
“the soap-like plant compound”
19th Century
English
saponin
“a soap-like plant glycoside”
Modern English
English
saponin
“a plant-derived glycoside that foams in water”
Explore more surprising origins