sandarac

[ san-duh-rak ]
/ ˈsæn dəˌræk /

noun

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.
the brittle, usually pale-yellow, faintly aromatic resin exuding from the bark of this tree: used chiefly as incense and in making varnish.

Origin of sandarac

1350–1400; Middle English sandaracha < Latin sandaraca < Greek sandarákē realgar, beebread

Example sentences from the Web for sandarac

  • Always the eraser and the sandarac, the same inkstand, the same pens, and the same companions.

    Bouvard and Pcuchet |Gustave Flaubert

British Dictionary definitions for sandarac

sandarac

sandarach

/ (ˈsændəˌræk) /

noun

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
a brittle pale yellow transparent resin obtained from the bark of this tree and used in making varnish and incense
Also called: citron wood the wood of this tree, used in building

Word Origin for sandarac

C16 sandaracha, from Latin sandaraca red pigment, from Greek sandarakē