jelutong

[ jel-uh-tawng, -tong ]

noun

1. a tree, Dyera costulata, of the Malay Peninsula, from which a resinous latex is obtained.
2. Also called pontianak. the latex of these trees, used as a substitute for chicle.
3. Also called devil tree. a tropical Old World tree, Alstonia scholaris, of the dogbane family, of which the bark is used in medicine.

jelutong

/ ˈdʒɛləˌtɒŋ /

noun

1. a Malaysian apocynaceous tree of the genus Dyera , esp D. costulata
2. the latex obtained from this tree, used in the manufacture of chewing gum
3. the wood of this tree

Word History and Origins

Origin of jelutong¹

Borrowed into English from Malay around 1830–40

Word History and Origins

Origin of jelutong¹

C19: from Malay

Example Sentences

Buck, who uses jelutong wood, a soft white wood from Malaysia, will give a talk Saturday, June 8, at noon.

From Seattle Times

Alongside skulls, bones and fruit he singles out careworn possessions, like a lone battered trainer or an acoustic guitar, and painstakingly chisels them in whole or in part in pale jelutong or limewood.

From The Guardian