camwood

noun

a W African leguminous tree, Baphia nitida, whose hard wood was formerly used in making a red dye
the wood of this tree

Word Origin for camwood

C20: perhaps from Temne

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Examples from the Web for camwood

Historical Examples of camwood

With some dyes a separate bath is needed, such as with Camwood or Catechu.
Vegetable Dyes
Ethel M. Mairet
This they smeared with a paint made by the admixture of camwood and copal gum.
Bones
Edgar Wallace
His face was streaked red with camwood, and around his eyes he had painted two white circles.
The Keepers of the King's Peace
Edgar Wallace
Boil half a pound of camwood (in a bag) in two gallons of water, for fifteen minutes.
A Treatise on Domestic Economy
Catherine Esther Beecher
Much of this is due to the Camwood powder, and with this mixed with oil they perform their toilet.
In Darkest Africa, Vol. 1; or, The quest, rescue and retreat of Emin, governor of Equatoria
Henry Morton Stanley