either of two coniferous trees, Tetraclinis articulata of N Africa or Callistris endlicheri of Australia, having hard fragrant dark wood: family Cupressaceae
2.
a brittle pale yellow transparent resin obtained from the bark of this tree and used in making varnish and incense
3. Also called: citron wood
the wood of this tree, used in building
Word origin
C16 sandaracha, from Latin sandaraca red pigment, from Greek sandarakē
sandarac in American English
(ˈsændəˌræk)
noun
1.
a brittle, slightly aromatic, somewhat transparent, yellowish resin exuded from the bark of several African and Australian trees (genera Tetraclinus and Callitris) of the pine family, used esp. in varnishes and as incense
2.
a.
a N African tree (Tetraclinus articulata) yielding this resin and a mahogany-colored, durable wood used esp. in building
: also sandarac tree
b.
this wood
Word origin
L sandaraca < Gr sandarakē: prob. akin to Sans candra-raga, having the glow of the moon: for IE base see sandalwood