n. 1. Any of several Mediterranean halophytes, especially Salsola kali, S. soda, or Halogeton sativus, that were formerly burned to obtain a crude soda ash. 2. The crude sodium carbonate ash that was obtained from these plants. [Spanish barrilla, from Catalan regional (Alicante, Valencia) barrella, alteration (influenced by Mozarabic) of Catalan regional (Lérida and western Catalonia) parrella, from diminutive of parra, trellised grapevine (barilla plants being so called from their shape, somewhat resembling a trellised grapevine), possibly from Gothic *parra, parran-, enclosure, pen (perhaps akin to Middle English parren, to enclose, confine) or of pre-Roman substrate origin (akin to Old French barre, bar; see BAR1).] |
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