borax

(bôr′aks′)

noun

sodium borate, a white, anhydrous, crystalline salt, NaBO, with an alkaline taste, used as a flux in soldering metals and in the manufacture of glass, enamel, artificial gems, soaps, antiseptics, etc.
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Origin: from the furniture formerly given as premiums by manufacturers of borax soap
cheap, poorly made merchandise, esp. furniture

Origin: ME < ML borax < Ar bauraq < Pers būrah

See borax in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A hydrated sodium borate, Na₂B₄O₇·10H₂O, an ore of boron, that is used as a cleaning compound.
An anhydrous sodium borate used in the manufacture of glass and various ceramics.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Medieval Latin bōrāx

Origin: , from Arabic būraq

Origin: , from Middle Persian būrak

noun

Cheap merchandise, especially tasteless furnishings: “today's glinty borax” (New Yorker).

Origin:

Origin: Perhaps from the custom of giving away borax soap as a premium for the sale of cheap furniture

Learn more about borax

borax medical definition

borax science