copaiba

American  

[koh-pey-buh, -pahy-buh] / koʊˈpeɪ bə, -ˈpaɪ bə /

noun

1. an oleoresin obtained from several tropical, chiefly South American trees belonging to the genus Copaifera, of the legume family, used chiefly in varnishes and lacquers, for removing old oil varnish from or for brightening oil paintings, and formerly in medicine in the treatment of certain mucous-membrane conditions.

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copaiba British  

/ kəʊˈpaɪvə, kəʊˈpaɪbə /

noun

1. Also called: copaiba balsam.   copaiba resin.  a transparent yellowish viscous oleoresin obtained from certain tropical South American trees of the leguminous genus Copaifera: used in varnishes and ointments

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Etymology

Origin of copaiba

1705–15; < Spanish < Portuguese < Tupi cupaiba

Example Sentences

As compared with copaiba in this connexion cubebs has the advantages of being less disagreeable to take and somewhat less likely to disturb the digestive apparatus in prolonged administration.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 7, Slice 8 "Cube" to "Daguerre, Louis" by Various

The balsams are either liquid or more or less solid; as, for example, the balm of Gilead, and the balsams of copaiba, Peru, and Tolu.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 3 Atrebates to Bedlis by Various

The exports, besides the staples already spoken of, are various, including annotto, sarsaparilla, balsam copaiba, and other medicinal extracts, together with rum and crude india-rubber.

From Equatorial America Descriptive of a Visit to St. Thomas, Martinique, Barbadoes, and the Principal Capitals of South America by Ballou, Maturin Murray

It has an odor similar to that of copaiba, is bitter and aromatic.

From The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by Thomas, Jerome Beers

Among the true balsams are the balm of Gilead, and the balsams of copaiba, Peru, and Tolu.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah