CAMPHOR

camphor

(noun) a resin obtained from the camphor tree; used in making celluloid and liniment

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

camphor (countable and uncountable, plural camphors)

(organic compound) A white transparent waxy crystalline isoprenoid ketone, 1,7,7-trimethylbicyclo[2.2.1]heptan-2-one, with a strong pungent odour, used in pharmacy.

Source: Wiktionary

Cam"phor, n. Etym: [OE. camfere, F. camphre (cf. It. camfara, Sp. camfara, alcanfor, LL. camfora, camphara, NGr. kafur, prob. fr. Skr. karpura.]

1. A tough, white, aromatic resin, or gum, obtained from different species of the Laurus family, esp. from Cinnamomum camphara (the Laurus camphara of Linnæus.). Camphor, C10H16O, is volatile and fragrant, and is used in medicine as a diaphoretic, a stimulant, or sedative.

2. A gum resembing ordinary camphor, obtained from a tree (Dryobalanops camphora) growing in Sumatra and Borneo; -- called also Malay camphor, camphor of Borneo, or borneol. See Borneol.

Note: The name camphor is also applied to a number of bodies of similar appearance and properties, as cedar camphor, obtained from the red or pencil cedar (Juniperus Virginiana), and peppermint camphor, or menthol, obtained from the oil of peppermint. Camphor oil (Chem.), name variously given to certain oil-like products, obtained especially from the camphor tree.

– Camphor tree, a large evergreen tree (Cinnamomum Camphora) with lax, smooth branches and shining triple-nerved lanceolate leaves, probably native in China, but now cultivated in most warm countries. Camphor is collected by a process of steaming the chips of the wood and subliming the product.

Cam"phor, v. t.

Definition: To impregnate or wash with camphor; to camphorate. [R.] Tatler.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition