sandarac
Americannoun
-
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.
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
Etymology
Origin of sandarac
1350–1400; Middle English sandaracha < Latin sandaraca < Greek sandarákē realgar, beebread
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Always the eraser and the sandarac, the same inkstand, the same pens, and the same companions.
From Bouvard and Pécuchet A Tragi-comic Novel of Bourgeois Life by Flaubert, Gustave
Varnish.—Place four ounces of rectified spirit of wine in a wide-mouthed bottle; add one ounce of gum sandarac, a quarter of an ounce of gum mastic, and a drachm of camphor, all in powder.
From The Lady's Album of Fancy Work for 1850 by Unknown
A good waterproof wood polish is made thus: 1 pint alcohol, 2 oz. gum benzoin, ¼ oz. gum sandarac, ¼ oz. gum anime.
From Handwork in Wood by Noyes, William
One ounce white rosin; one half ounce gum sandarac; one half ounce Prussian blue, in fine powder.
From The Ladies Book of Useful Information Compiled from many sources by Anonymous
Rembrandt, from motives of economy, may have employed the scarcely less durable common "vernix" or sandarac oil varnish; and for certain effects may have reckoned on its tint.
From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 62, No. 383, September 1847 by Various
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.