əˈmōlē, -ˌlā noun
( -s )
Etymology: Spanish, from Nahuatl amolli soap, probably from atl water + molli stew, confection
1. : any part of a plant possessing detergent properties and used as a substitute for soap
2. : any of a number of plants utilized as a source of soap: as
a. : soap plant a
b. : any of various Mexican amaryllidaceous plants of the genera Manfreda (as M. brachystachys ), Agave (as A. heteracantha ), and Prochnyanthes whose rootstock when pounded to a pulp readily produces a lather when moistened