sandarac
/ˈsandərak
/(also gum sandarac)
noun [mass noun]
A gum resin obtained from the alerce (cypress) of Spain and North Africa, used in making varnish.It produces sandarac, a resin used for making varnish and incense....
- The skins have to be rubbed down with sandpaper and gum sandarac to produce the best writing surface; each one takes a good hour to prepare.
- These ‘harder’ resins include Strasbourg turpentine (olio d' abezzo) from the European silver fir, Abies alba and sandarac resin, from Tetraclinis articulata and, possibly, from some Juniperus species.
Origin
Late Middle English (denoting realgar): from Latin sandaraca, from Greek sandarakē, of Asiatic origin. The current sense dates from the mid 17th century.