(Heb. borith mekabbeshim, i.e., "alkali of those treading cloth"). Mention is made ( Proverbs 25:20 ; Jeremiah 2:22 ) of nitre and also ( Malachi 3:2 ) of soap (Heb. borith) used by the fuller in his operations. Nitre is found in Syria, and vegetable alkali was obtained from the ashes of certain plants. (See SOAP .)

These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.