logwood

[lawg-wood, log-]

noun

1. the heavy, brownish-red heartwood of a West Indian and Central American tree, Haematoxylon campechianum, of the legume family, used in dyeing.

2. the tree itself.

logwood

/ ˈlɒɡˌwʊd /

noun

1. a leguminous tree, Haematoxylon campechianum, of the Caribbean and Central America

2. the heavy reddish-brown wood of this tree, yielding the dye haematoxylin See also haematoxylon

Word History and Origins

Origin of logwood¹

First recorded in 1575–85; log ¹ + wood ¹

Example Sentences

Campeche was colonized by Spain in the 16th century; over the next 100 years, as trade in logwood dye created wealth, it was under constant attack by pirates, many hailing from Spain’s arch enemy, England.

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For example, the famous steeple was financed in part by the sale of logwood, the harvesting of which was dependent on slave labor, she said.

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Its location also made it a commercial centre as well; merchants traded slaves, sugar and logwood.

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They were joined by other desperadoes, notably by a gang of logwood cutters from the Bays of Campechy and Honduras.

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They raise cotton for clothing, which they dye various colours with logwood, indigo, and the achiote, a large tree, whose seed is used for that purpose.

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