any of several tropical trees of the sapotaceous genera Palaquium and Payena, esp Palaquium gutta
2.
a whitish rubber substance derived from the coagulated milky latex of any of these trees: used in electrical insulation and dentistry
Word origin
C19: from Malay getah gum + percha name of a tree that produces it
gutta-percha in American English
(ˌgʌtəˈpɜrtʃə)
noun
a rubberlike gum produced from the latex of various SE Asian trees (esp. genera Palaquium and Payena) of the sapodilla family and used in electric insulation, dentistry, golf balls, etc.
Word origin
< Malay < getah, tree sap, latex + ? perca, rag, strip of cloth (so called because sold in strips): form infl. by L gutta, a drop