Brazilwood
/brəˈzɪlˌwʊd/noun
A tropical hardwood, especially from trees of the genus Caesalpinia, once highly valued for producing a red dye.
Did you know?Portuguese colonists called it pau-brasil, and the intense red dye extracted from the wood helped give the entire country its name.
Etymological Timeline
Medieval Latin and Romance usage
Latin/Romance
brasil
“A name for red-dye wood; the ultimate origin is uncertain, though it has often been connected with words for glowing coals or embers.”
12th–14th Century
Old French/Italian
bresil / verzino
“Terms used in Europe for imported redwoods or red dye-producing woods from eastern trade routes.”
14th–15th Century
Portuguese
brasil
“Red dye wood, probably associated by appearance or folk etymology with brasa, meaning “ember” or “live coal.””
16th Century
Portuguese
pau-brasil
“Literally “wood of brasil”: pau meant “wood,” while brasil identified the red-dye tree.”
16th Century
English
brazil wood
“The imported tropical timber known for yielding a brilliant red dye.”
Modern English
English
brazilwood
“The established compound name for the tropical red-dye hardwood.”