gamboge
/ɡamˈbəʊʒ
/ /ɡamˈbuːʒ/noun [mass noun]
A gum resin produced by various East Asian trees, used as a yellow pigment and in medicine as a purgative.
- The trees belong to the genus Garcinia (family Guttiferae), in particular G. xanthochymus.
- There are many other wild and cultivated Garcinia spp, some providing sweet fruits, others tart seasonings, medicines, dyes, the artist's pigment gamboge, substances used for tanning leather, and timber.
- Among the guilty fugitives, whose departure has made monotone what was polychrome, are indigo, gamboge and brown lake (purple).
Origin
Early 18th century (earlier in the Latin form): from modern Latin gambaugium, from Cambodia.