torchwood

American  

[tawrch-wood] / ˈtɔrtʃˌwʊd /

noun

1. any of various resinous woods suitable for making torches, as the wood of the tree Amyris balsamifera, of the rue family, native to Florida and the West Indies.

2. any of the trees yielding these woods.

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torchwood British  

/ ˈtɔːtʃˌwʊd /

noun

1. any of various rutaceous trees or shrubs of the genus Amyris, esp A. balsamifera, of Florida and the Caribbean, having hard resinous wood used for torches

2. any of various similar trees the wood of which is used for torches

3. the wood of any of these trees

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Etymology

Origin of torchwood

First recorded in 1595–1605; torch ¹ + wood ¹

Example Sentences

"Do you suppose we could find torchwood in that pile yonder?"

From Ruth Fielding on Cliff Island Or, The Old Hunter's Treasure Box by Emerson, Alice B.