chicle

[chik-uh l]

noun

a gumlike substance obtained from the latex of certain tropical American trees, as the sapodilla, used chiefly in the manufacture of chewing gum.

Origin of chicle

1860–65, Americanism; < Mexican Spanish < Nahuatl tzictli

Also called chicle gum.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for chicle

Historical Examples of chicle

I import into Honduras every year more than two million pounds of chicle.
The Red Lure
Roy J. Snell
And this tiger is old, fairly gray bearded, the chicle buyer said.
The Red Lure
Roy J. Snell
The camp in which Johnny had enjoyed his wild turkey dinner was a chicle camp.
The Red Lure
Roy J. Snell
With chicle at fifty cents a pound at the dock, that should yield a profit.
The Red Lure
Roy J. Snell
The bleeding season for chicle begins with the first rainfall.
Forbidden Cargoes
Roy J. Snell

British Dictionary definitions for chicle

chicle

noun

a gumlike substance obtained from the sapodilla; the main ingredient of chewing gumAlso called: chicle gum

Word Origin for chicle

from Spanish, from Nahuatl chictli

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

Word Origin and History for chicle

1889, American English (in chicle-gum), from Mexican Spanish chicle, from Nahuatl (Aztec) tzictli.