camwood

/ ˈkæmˌwʊd /

noun

1. a W African leguminous tree, Baphia nitida, whose hard wood was formerly used in making a red dye
2. the wood of this tree

Word History and Origins

Origin of camwood¹

C20: perhaps from Temne

Example Sentences

A new headdress decked his hair; and he must have kept his barber busy half the night in arranging his top-knot and painting his face with red camwood and white clay.

From Project Gutenberg

The chief trees are silk cottons, especially the bombax, and gigantic hard-wood trees, such as the African mahogany, ebony, odum and camwood.

From Project Gutenberg

The following extracts from his writings set this matter beyond all doubt: “Bolobo is a great centre for the ivory and camwood powder trade, principally because its people are so enterprising.”

From Project Gutenberg

His face was streaked red with camwood, and around his eyes he had painted two white circles.

From Project Gutenberg

The trade of these regions consists of an exchange of tropical products—palm-oil, rubber, ebony, camwood, ivory, and hides—for cloth, tobacco, fire-arms, beads and trinkets, and preserved foods.

From Project Gutenberg