logwood

American  

[lawg-wood, log-] / ˈlɔgˌwʊd, ˈlɒg- /

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.

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logwood British  

/ 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

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Etymology

Origin of logwood

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.

From Washington Post • Apr. 1, 2022

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

From BBC • Jul. 25, 2012

Dennis and Amos decided to occupy their old hut; the men were given their choice of the sheds, now all but empty, and the huts erected by the maroons near the logwood grove.

From With Drake on the Spanish Main by Strang, Herbert

Whether the King of Great Britain will admit the citizens of the United States to cut logwood on the district allotted to his Majesty by Spain, and on what terms?

From The Diplomatic Correspondence of the American Revolution, Volume X (of 12) by Various

"You can't expect to grow logwood in Iceland."

From Poor Relations by MacKenzie, Compton