sandarac
(ˈsændəræk)
Forms: 6 sandarache, 7–8 -arack, 7–9 -arach, 8 -arick, 9 -aric, 7 sanderick, 8 sandrick, 9 sandrake, 8–9 sandrac, 7– sandarac.
[ad. L. sandarac-a, a. Gr. σανδαράκη, -άχη (senses 1 and 3), prob. a foreign word. Cf. F. sandaraque (Cotgr. 1611 sandarac, -ache), Sp., Pg. sandaraca (senses 1 and 2), It. sandaraca, sandracca (sense 1).
It is difficult to see any connexion between the three senses; possibly two distinct words were already confused in Gr. Sense 2, in mod.L. sandaracha Arabum, represents Arab. sandarūs (Dozy, from P. de Alcalá 1505), also sandalus (Freytag, from Golius); but the word cannot be native Arabic. According to the Persian and Urdū dictionaries, Pers. sandaros, sandara and Urdū sandaros are used both in sense 1 and in sense 2. Connexion with Skr. sindūra (Hindī sindūr), red lead, vermilion, seems unlikely on the ground of form.]
1. Red arsenic sulphide. = realgar.
| [1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. xix. xxix. (1495) 878 Sandaracha growyth in Topasion..is of red coloure..and is founde amonge metall of golde and of syluer.] c 1550 Lloyd Treas. Health Y ij, Take..of Sandarache, whyte and red [etc.]. 1646 Sir T. Browne Pseud. Ep. ii. v. 90 Arsenick red and yellow, that is, Orpement and Sandarach may perhaps doe something, as being inflamable. 1756 P. Browne Jamaica 41 The Sandarack is an inflammable fossil substance. 1890 E. Johnson Rise of Christendom 264 A hollow bull of bronze was filled with naphtha, sandarac, sulphur and lead. |
2. In full
gum sandarac. A resin which exudes from the tree
Callitris quadrivalvis, native of
N.W. Africa; it is used in the preparation of spirit varnish and pounce.
| 1655 Culpepper, etc. Riverius i. i. 4 Take..Frankinsence and Sandarach, of each two Scruples. 1666 Boyle Orig. Formes & Qual. ii. iv. 321 Spirit of Wine will dissolve some Bodies, as Sanderick, Mastick, Gum-Lac, &c. 1687 A. Lovell tr. Thevenot's Trav. ii. 87 A most excellent Varnish..is made of Sandarack and lintseed Oyl. 1727 W. Mather Yng. Man's Comp. 73 To make the Paper bear Ink well,..rub the Paper with the fine Powder of Gum sandrick, tied in a Rag. 1812 J. Smyth Pract. of Customs (1821) 99 Gum Juniper or Sandrake. 1849 Balfour Man. Bot. §1046 Callitris quadrivalvis (Thuya articulata), the Arar-tree, supplies a solid resin called Sandarach or Pounce. |
| attrib. 1825 J. Nicholson Operat. Mechanic 744 Sandarac Varnish. 1878 Hooker & Ball Marocco 389 The Arar, Thuja or Gum Sandrac Tree. |
† 3. = bee-bread 2.
Obs.| 1609 C. Butler Fem. Mon. x. (1623) V ij, Breake the Combes..into three parts; the first sheere Honie and Wax, the second Honie and Wax with Sandarach, the third dry Wax. 1657 S. Purchas Pol. Flying-Ins. 179 This Bee..gathers as the Hive-Bee sandaracha. 1747 R. Maxwell Bee-master §419 (1756) 113 The Sandrach or Bee-bread. |