guaiacum

noun

guai·​a·​cum ˈgwī-ə-kəm  ˈgī- 

1

: any of a genus (Guaiacum) of the caltrop family of tropical American evergreen trees and shrubs having pinnate leaves, usually blue flowers, and capsular fruit

2

a

: the hard greenish-brown wood of a guaiacum (especially Guaiacum officinale)

b

: a resin with a faint balsamic odor that is obtained from the trunk of two guaiacums (G. officinale and G. sanctum) and often used as a clinical reagent

Examples of guaiacum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The old guaiacum test was very clumsy and uncertain. —Roy Schwartz, CNN, 20 May 2022

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Spanish guayaco, from Taino guayacan

First Known Use

1553, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

guaiacum

noun

guai·​a·​cum ˈg(w)ī-ə-kəm 

1

capitalized : a genus (family Zygophyllaceae) of tropical American trees and shrubs having pinnate leaves, usually blue flowers, and capsular fruit

2

: any tree or shrub of the genus Guaiacum

3

: a resin with a faint balsamic odor obtained as tears or masses from the trunk of either of two trees of the genus Guaiacum (G. officinale or G. sanctum) used formerly in medicine as a remedy for gout or rheumatism and now in various tests (as for peroxidases or bloodstains) because of the formation of a blue color on oxidation see guaiac test