figging

1. (soap-making, dated) (Development of) white streaks or granulations in soap, a natural development in some soaps once considered a sign of quality and therefore sometimes artificially imitated.Examples: "Figging is usually considered to indicate a good quality of soft soap, but such is really not the case. A first-class soft soap can be made which will not fig, while, on the other hand, a poor soap can be produced which will fig."; "The figging is probably due to the separation of the potash salts of some of the fatty acids having a high solidifying point, i. e., [...]"; "Artificial figging was at one time produced by dispersing insoluble fillers in the base."dateduncountable