Dictionary

brazil en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /bɹəˈzɪl/

Meanings

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:
   • [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

Forms

Deriveds

hard as brazil