brazilwood

[bruh-zil-wood]

bra·zil·wood

[bruh-zil-wood]
noun
1.
any of several tropical trees of the genus Caesalpinia, as C. echinata, having wood from which a red dye is obtained.
2.
the wood of such a tree.

Origin:
1550–60; brazil + wood1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Brazilwood is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia

brazilwood

dense, compact dyewood from any of various tropical trees whose extracts yield bright crimson and deep purple colours. Brazilwood is also used in cabinetwork. In ancient and medieval times, the brazilwood imported to Europe from the Middle East was Caesalpinia braziliensis and other species of Caesalpinia. Caesalpinia echinata (called pau-brasil in Portuguese) is indigenous to the Brazilian coast and played a role in the naming of that country.

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Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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