palo santo

noun

pa·​lo san·​to
ˌpalōˈsanˌtō,
ˌpälōˈsän-
: any of several South American trees esteemed locally for medicinal or other special properties
especially : a tree (Bulnesia sarmienti) of the family Zygophyllaceae occurring in dry interior regions of Argentina and Paraguay and having a resinous heartwood used for incense see guaiac wood

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, literally, holy tree

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near palo santo

Cite this Entry

“Palo santo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/palo%20santo. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!