[SOAP sb.] One who makes soap; a soap-boiler.
1483. Cath. Angl., 318/1. A Sape maker…, saponarius.
1558. Warde, trans. Alexis’ Secr., 41. Take Sope makers water, and boyle it vntill it … become as it were an oyntment.
1597. A. M., trans. Guillemeau’s Fr. Chirurg., 41 b/1–2. Take Sopemakers lye, two pounde, Vitriol three ownces.
1634. in Rymer, Fœdera (1732), XIX. 506. That no Soap-maker whatsoever presume to put any Soap to sale, which shall not be so marked.
1652. (title) The Soapmakers Complaint for the Losse of their Trade by Reason of a double excise.
1780. Westm. Mag., Suppl. 730/1. John Shand, Coldbath-fields, soap-maker.
1839. Ure, Dict. Arts, 1142. Three such boils may be given in the course of one day’s work, by an active soap-maker.
1861. Eng. Cycl., Arts & Sci., VII. 636. The carbonic acid is driven off for the soap-maker’s purposes.
So Soap-making vbl. sb.
1603. Stow, Surv., 253. I haue not read or heard of Sope making in this Cittie till within this fourescore yeares.
1634. in Rymer Fœdera (1732), XIX. 507. Other persons … who … have set up a Trade of Soap making as for themselves.
1857. Miller, Elem. Chem., Org., vi. § 1. 359. It is this [mucilaginous oil] which is chiefly employed in soap-making.
