dragon's blood

noun

1. a deep-red, water-insoluble resin exuding from the fruit of a palm, Daemonorops draco, of the Malay Archipelago, used chiefly in the preparation of varnishes and in photoengraving for protecting certain areas of the metal plate from the acid.

2. any of various similar resins from other trees.

3. Pompeian red.

dragon's blood

noun

1. a red resinous substance obtained from the fruit of a Malaysian palm, Daemonorops (or Calamus ) draco: formerly used medicinally and now used in varnishes and lacquers

2. any of several similar resins obtained from other trees, esp from the dragon tree and a related species, Dracaena cinnabari (Socotra dragon's blood dracaena)

Word History and Origins

Origin of dragon's blood¹

First recorded in 1590–1600