Santalin
/ˈsæn.tə.lɪn/noun
A red coloring substance obtained from the heartwood of red sandalwood.
Did you know?Santalin comes from red sandalwood, Pterocarpus santalinus, whose heartwood has been used historically as a natural dye and medicinal material, although it is different from fragrant white sandalwood.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Sanskrit
Sanskrit
candana
“Sandalwood, especially the fragrant wood of the sandalwood tree”
Ancient Greek
Greek
sántalon
“Sandalwood, borrowed from an eastern language”
Classical Latin
Latin
santalum
“Sandalwood”
Medieval Latin
Latin
santalum
“Sandalwood, used in botanical and medicinal writing”
18th Century
French
santal
“Sandalwood; the source of the botanical and chemical naming tradition”
19th Century
English
santalin
“A red coloring matter derived from red sandalwood”
Modern English
English
santalin
“A natural red pigment obtained chiefly from the heartwood of Pterocarpus santalinus”
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