brazil
nounalso spelled Brazil/bɹəˈzɪl/
1
Obsolete A red-orange dye obtained from brazil wood.
- A small Quantity of Saffron will Tinct more then a very great Quantity of Brasil.1627, Francis Bacon, Sylva sylvarum:
2
The hard, brown wood of a certain species of the tribe Caesalpinieae; originally sappan (Biancaea sappan), of the East Indies, and later brazilwood, Paubrasilia echinata.
- The Prouince Brasilia tooke his name of the woode called Brasill.1594, Thomas Blundeville, Exercises:
- Thou know'st my brittle temper's prone to break. Are my bones brazil or my flesh of oak?1886, Francis Quarles, Emblems:
1 more example
- [P]ernambucco – the finest brasil from Brazil, so strong it almost resembles iron – became the favoured material for good bows.2002, Victoria Finlay, Colour, Sceptre, published 2003, page 198:
3
A Brazil nut.
- I picked up a handful of brazils from the bowl.
4
A seam of coal containing iron pyrites
- Derived terms
- hard as brazil