BORAX

I. noun Etymology: Middle English boras, from Anglo-French boreis, from Medieval Latin borac-, ~, from Arabic būraq, from Persian būrah Date: 14th century a white crystalline compound that consists of a hydrated sodium borate Na 2 B 4 O 7 10H 2 O, that occurs as a mineral or is prepared from other minerals, and that is used especially as a flux, cleansing agent, and water softener, as a preservative, and as a fireproofing agent, II. noun Etymology: origin unknown Date: 1932 cheap shoddy merchandise