guaiacum
Americannoun
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any of several tropical American trees or shrubs belonging to the genus Guaiacum of the caltrop family; lignum vitae.
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the hard, heavy wood of such a tree; guaiac.
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resin obtained from such a tree; guaiac.
noun
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any tropical American evergreen tree of the zygophyllaceous genus Guaiacum, such as the lignum vitae
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the hard heavy wood of any of these trees
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Also called: guaiac. a brownish resin obtained from the lignum vitae, used medicinally and in making varnishes
Etymology
Origin of guaiacum
First recorded in 1525–35; from New Latin, from Spanish guayaco, guayacán, from Taíno
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It cannot be stopped by bleeding, or sweating, or purging, by niter, by tartar emetic, by guaiacum, by alkalies, by salines, by salicylic acid, or by anything else.
From Scientific American Supplement, No. 299, September 24, 1881 by Various
A decoction of 1 ℔ of guaiacum was held to be sufficient for the four first days of the treatment.
From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 12, Slice 6 "Groups, Theory of" to "Gwyniad" by Various
Compound powder of ipecacuanha, ten grains; powdered guaiacum, four grains: in a powder at bedtime.
From Enquire Within Upon Everything The Great Victorian Domestic Standby by Anonymous
To produce sweating, employ cardus water, and mithridate, or a decoction of guaiacum and sarsaparilla.
Gum guaiacum is also a great producer of perspiration, and sarsaparilla pills, taken every night before going to bed are also highly to be recommended.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
