sandarac

[ san-duh-rak ]

noun
  1. a coniferous tree, Tetraclinis articulata (Callitrus quadrivalvis), native to northwestern Africa, yielding a resin and a fragrant, hard, dark-colored wood much used in building.

  2. the brittle, usually pale-yellow, faintly aromatic resin exuding from the bark of this tree: used chiefly as incense and in making varnish.

Origin of sandarac

1
1350–1400; Middle English sandaracha<Latin sandaraca<Greek sandarákē realgar, beebread

Words Nearby sandarac

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British Dictionary definitions for sandarac

sandarac

sandarach

/ (ˈsændəˌræk) /


noun
  1. Also called: sandarac tree either of two coniferous trees, Tetraclinis articulata of N Africa or Callistris endlicheri of Australia, having hard fragrant dark wood: family Cupressaceae

  2. a brittle pale yellow transparent resin obtained from the bark of this tree and used in making varnish and incense

  1. Also called: citron wood the wood of this tree, used in building

Origin of sandarac

1
C16 sandaracha, from Latin sandaraca red pigment, from Greek sandarakē

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