chicle
[chik-uh l]
- a gumlike substance obtained from the latex of certain tropical American trees, as the sapodilla, used chiefly in the manufacture of chewing gum.
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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. 2018
Examples from the Web for chicle
Historical Examples
With chicle at fifty cents a pound at the dock, that should yield a profit.
The Red LureRoy J. Snell
And this tiger is old, fairly gray bearded, the chicle buyer said.
The Red LureRoy J. Snell
The camp in which Johnny had enjoyed his wild turkey dinner was a chicle camp.
The Red LureRoy J. Snell
I import into Honduras every year more than two million pounds of chicle.
The Red LureRoy J. Snell
There is a net profit of twenty-five cents a pound on chicle.
Forbidden CargoesRoy J. Snell
chicle
- a gumlike substance obtained from the sapodilla; the main ingredient of chewing gumAlso called: chicle gum
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Word Origin
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
n.
1889, American English (in chicle-gum), from Mexican Spanish chicle, from Nahuatl (Aztec) tzictli.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper