(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 .)