sandarac

noun

san·​da·​rac ˈsan-də-ˌrak 

: a brittle faintly aromatic translucent resin obtained from a northern African tree (Tetraclinis articulata) of the cypress family and used chiefly in making varnish and as incense

also : a similar resin obtained from any of several Australian trees (genus Callitris) of the same family

Word History

Etymology

Latin sandaraca red coloring, from Greek sandarakē realgar, red pigment from realgar

First Known Use

1543, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

sandarac

noun

san·​da·​rac ˈsan-də-ˌrak 

: a brittle aromatic translucent resin obtained from a large northern African tree (Callitris articulata) of the cypress family (Cupressaceae) and used chiefly in making varnish and as incense

also : a similar resin obtained from any of several related Australian trees