wood tar

American  

noun

1. a dark viscid product obtained from wood by distillation or by slow burning without flame, used in its natural state to preserve timber, rope, etc., or subjected to further distillation to yield creosote, oils, and a final residuum, wood pitch.

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wood tar British  

noun

1. any tar produced by the destructive distillation of wood: used in producing tarred cord and rope and formerly in medicine as disinfectants and antiseptics

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Etymology

Origin of wood tar

First recorded in 1855–60

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wood tar

Athens got from the Black Sea besides wood, tar, wool, hides, cordage, honey, wax and slaves, also salt fish.

From Principles Of Political Economy by Lalor, John J. (John Joseph)

Bishop Berkeley, after having proved that all matter was in your mind, wrote a book to prove that wood tar would cure all diseases.

From Creative Chemistry Descriptive of Recent Achievements in the Chemical Industries by Slosson, Edwin E.

Both wood tar, well known under the name of creosote, and coal tar are powerful antiseptics.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 417, December 29, 1883 by Various

The town carries on an extensive trade in grain, flax, hemp, wood, tar and leather.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 "Brescia" to "Bulgaria" by Various

They are obtained from coal tar and wood tar, and are colorless, oily liquids or solids.

From The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary Section C by Project Gutenberg