camwood

/ ˈkæmˌwʊd /

noun

1. a W African leguminous tree, Baphia nitida, whose hard wood was formerly used in making a red dye

2. the wood of this tree

Word History and Origins

Origin of camwood¹

C20: perhaps from Temne

Example Sentences

A new headdress decked his hair; and he must have kept his barber busy half the night in arranging his top-knot and painting his face with red camwood and white clay.

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The chief trees are silk cottons, especially the bombax, and gigantic hard-wood trees, such as the African mahogany, ebony, odum and camwood.

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The following extracts from his writings set this matter beyond all doubt: “Bolobo is a great centre for the ivory and camwood powder trade, principally because its people are so enterprising.”

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His face was streaked red with camwood, and around his eyes he had painted two white circles.

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The trade of these regions consists of an exchange of tropical products—palm-oil, rubber, ebony, camwood, ivory, and hides—for cloth, tobacco, fire-arms, beads and trinkets, and preserved foods.

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