gutta-percha

American  

[guht-uh-pur-chuh] / ˈgʌt əˈpɜr tʃə /

noun

1. the milky juice, nearly white when pure, of various Malaysian trees of the sapodilla family, especially Palaquium gutta.

2. the tough, rubberlike gum made from this and used as a dental cement, in the manufacture of golf balls, for insulating electric wires, etc.

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gutta-percha British  

/ ˈɡʌtəˈpɜːtʃə /

noun

1. any of several tropical trees of the sapotaceous genera Palaquium and Payena, esp Palaquium gutta

2. a whitish rubber substance derived from the coagulated milky latex of any of these trees: used in electrical insulation and dentistry

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Etymology

Origin of gutta-percha

1835–45; < Malay gətah (spelling getah ) tree sap + perca rag, strip of cloth; perhaps so called from the appearance of the sap ( Malay getah taban ) in its marketed form

Example Sentences

The first golf ball struck in 1873 on the Old Course was a gutta-percha.

From Seattle Times

The gutta-percha was the first game-changer in golf — yes, technology in the Royal & Ancient game began long before titanium and the Pro V1 — replacing a ball consisting of feathers packed into a pouch.

From Seattle Times

Demand for gutta-percha, an early bio-based resin used to insulate telegraph cables for the administration of the British Empire, led to widespread deforestation in Southeast Asia.

From Washington Post

Now, if Fowler really wants to impress, he'll use a balata or gutta-percha ball for his next driving exhibition.

From Golf Digest

Look at the advertisements in old newspapers and gutta-percha is everywhere.

From Time