lye

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The liquid obtained by leaching wood ashes.
2. n. See potassium hydroxide.
3. n. See sodium hydroxide.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. An obsolete spelling of lie.
2. n. An obsolete spelling of lie.
3. n. Water impregnated with alkaline salt imbibed from the ashes of wood by the process of leaching; also, some solution of an alkali, as potash, which is itself the product of leached lye concreted by evaporation. Crude lye is used in making some coarse kinds of soap, for cleaning certain things, as inked printing-types and -rollers (though for these benzine is now more common), and for various other purposes. In dilution it is used in a preparation of maize called hulled corn (which see, under hull, v. t.) and also lyed corn.
4. n. A variant of lay.
5. n. An obsolete variant of lee.
6. n. In a general sense, water charged with soluble solid matter by contact with a mixture of solid substances, partly soluble, partly insoluble.

Wiktionary

1. n. A strong caustic alkaline solution of potassium or sodium salts, obtained by leaching wood ashes. It is much used in making soap as well as its use in biodiesel.
2. v. Obsolete spelling of lie.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. A strong caustic alkaline solution of potassium salts, obtained by leaching wood ashes. It is much used in making soap, etc.
2. n. (Chem.) Sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, or a concentrated aqueous solution of either compound.
3. n. (Railroad), engraving A short side line, connected with the main line; a turn-out; a siding.
4. n. obsolete A falsehood.

WordNet 3.0

1. n. a strong solution of sodium or potassium hydroxide