▪ I. white-gum1
[after red gum1, q.v.]
An eruption of whitish spots with a red border (Strophulus albidus) incident to young children.
| 1799 Underwood Dis. Childhood (ed. 4) I. 81 Another species [of Red-gum]..often of a pearl colour and opake, which has generally been accounted a kind of red gum, but it has of late been suggested might..be termed the white-gum. |
▪ II. white-gum2
[gum n.2 5.]
Any species of Eucalyptus with white or light-coloured bark. Also white gum-tree.
| 1827 P. Cunningham Two Years in N.S. Wales I. xii. 200 The red and white gums [so named] from their wood. 1827 Trans. Linnæan Soc. XV. 278 [The ground-parrot] chiefly breeds in a stump of a small White Gum-tree. 1891 Argus (Melbourne) 13 May, On the lower slopes [of the ranges] the bluegum trees become first commingled with trees locally designated whitegum and black butt. |