‖ lignum vitæ
(ˈlɪgnəm ˈvaɪtiː)
[L. = wood of life.]
1. A tree; = guaiacum 1. Applied also to several other trees having wood of similar properties.
| 1597 Gerarde Herbal iii. cxviii. 1309 Italian Lignum vitæ, or woode of Life, groweth to a faire and beautiful tree. 1655 J. S. Jrnl. Eng. Army in W. Indies 18 Of..Mastick and Lignum vitæ trees there are good plenty. 1712 E. Cooke Voy. S. Sea 326 The Trees I observ'd here, were Lignum Vitæ, Birch..and many more. 1792 [see guaiacum 1]. 1866 Morning Star 17 Mar., The lignum vitæ is putting forth its blossoms. 1866 Treas. Bot., Lignum vitæ of New South Wales, Acacia falcata. Lignum vitæ of New Zealand, Metrosideros buxifolia. Bastard lignum vitæ, Badiera diversifolia. |
2. The wood of this tree; = guaiacum 2.
| 1594 Blundevil Exerc. v. xii. (1636) 556 Wood of Brasill, wood of Guaicum, called Lignum vitæ. 1660 Pepys Diary 21 Nov., This morning my cozen Thomas Pepys, the turner, sent me a cupp of lignum vitæ for a token. 1703 Moxon Mech. Exerc. 74 If it be very hard Wood you are to Plane upon, as Box, Ebony, Lignum Vitæ, &c. 1817 J. Adams Let. 5 June Wks. 1856 X. 263 Mr. Adams was born and tempered a wedge of steel to split the knot of lignum vitæ, which tied North America to Great Britain. 1886 Ruskin Præterita I. iii. 85 My toy-bricks of lignum vitæ had been constant companions. |
3. The resin obtained from this tree; = guaiacum 3.
| 1611 Cotgr., Gayac, Gwacum, Lignum vitæ, Pockewood. 1616 Bullokar, Guaiacum, a wood called by some Lignum vitae. It is much vsed in physicke against the French disease. 1686 S. Sewall Diary 2 Jan. (1878) I. 116 Discoursed with Ralf Carter about Lignum Vitae. |