an impure mixture of sodium carbonate and sodium sulphate obtained from the ashes of certain plants, such as the saltworts
2.
either of two chenopodiaceous plants, Salsola kali (or soda) or Halogeton soda, formerly burned to obtain a form of sodium carbonate
See also saltwort
Word origin
C17: from Spanish barrilla, literally: a little bar, from barrabar1
barilla in American English
(bəˈrɪlə)
noun
crude soda ash, formerly used in glassmaking and obtained by burning various saltworts and related plants (genera Salsola and Halogeton) native to the Mediterranean area
Word origin
Sp barrilla < Galician baril, very good < Ar bariʾ, free, healthy