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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of copaiba

1705–15; < Spanish < Portuguese < Tupi cupaiba

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

copaiba

Copaifera officinalis.—This tree yields balsam of copaiba, used in medicine.

From Catalogue of Economic Plants in the Collection of the U. S. Department of Agriculture by William Saunders

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

State frequency and types of eruption following the administration of copaiba.

From Essentials of Diseases of the Skin Including the Syphilodermata Arranged in the Form of Questions and Answers Prepared Especially for Students of Medicine by Henry Weightman Stelwagon

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

From The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by Jerome Beers Thomas

Such things as copaiba, cubebs, sandalwood, alcohol, coffee, etc., have their recognizable fragrance.

From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Walter L. (Walter Lytle) Pyle