carapa

[kuh-rap-uh]

noun

1. a South American tree, Carapa guianensis, of the mahogany family.

2. the light, reddish-brown wood of this tree, used for making furniture.

Word History and Origins

Origin of carapa¹

1860–65; < New Latin ≪ Carib: oil

Example Sentences

Carapa, kar′a-pa, n. a genus of tropical trees of natural order Meliace�, a South American species yielding the useful carap-oil or crab-oil.

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They rub their bodies with carapa oil, to keep off insects; and one of the ingredients of their numerous poisons, is a kind of black ant called muneery.

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Carapa guianensis.—A meliaceous plant, native of tropical America, where it grows to a height of 60 to 80 feet.

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An oil called Carap oil is also obtained in the East, from the almonds of Xylocarpus granatum, or Carapa Molluccensis, of Lanark, which is used by the natives to dress the hair and anoint the skin, so as to keep off insects.

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The rest must be contented with Arnotta, or Poncer mixed with the oil of Carapa, a portion of which, with the Balsam of Aracousiri, mixed with these paints, imparts to them a very delightful odour.

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