sandarac
Americannoun
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a coniferous tree, Tetraclinis articulata (Callitrus quadrivalvis ), native to northwestern Africa, yielding a resin and a fragrant, hard, dark-colored wood much used in building.
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the brittle, usually pale-yellow, faintly aromatic resin exuding from the bark of this tree: used chiefly as incense and in making varnish.
noun
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Also called: sandarac tree. either of two coniferous trees, Tetraclinis articulata of N Africa or Callistris endlicheri of Australia, having hard fragrant dark wood: family Cupressaceae
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a brittle pale yellow transparent resin obtained from the bark of this tree and used in making varnish and incense
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Also called: citron wood. the wood of this tree, used in building
Etymology
Origin of sandarac
1350–1400; Middle English sandaracha < Latin sandaraca < Greek sandarákē realgar, beebread
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.
Argan, kharob, and lotus, with the help of a few of the "arar" or gum sandarac trees, shut off the view to the right and left.
From Morocco by Forrest, A. S. (Archibald Stevenson)
Rembrandt, from motives of economy, may have employed the scarcely less durable common "vernix" or sandarac oil varnish; and for certain effects may have reckoned on its tint.
From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 62, No. 383, September 1847 by Various
Varnish.—Place four ounces of rectified spirit of wine in a wide-mouthed bottle; add one ounce of gum sandarac, a quarter of an ounce of gum mastic, and a drachm of camphor, all in powder.
From The Lady's Album of Fancy Work for 1850 by Unknown
The translator, in a note, offers a conjecture, not without its probability, that it may have been sandarac, the "Vernice da Scrivere" of Cennino, and quotes Raffaello Borghini in his "Reposo."
From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 57, No. 357, June, 1845 by Various
Owing to the dark colour of this varnish, in which amber, or more frequently sandarac, was used, this plan, from its darkening effect on most colours, had hitherto proved unsuccessful.
From Great Pictures, As Seen and Described by Famous Writers by Singleton, Esther
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.
