ˈtulip-wood
a. The wood of the tulip-tree (see prec. 1), a light ornamental wood used by cabinet-makers, etc. b. A name for various coloured and striped woods, or the trees producing them, as Physocalymma floribundum of Brazil, Homoiceltis (Aphananthe) philippinensis, and species of Owenia and Harpullia, of Australia. (Also attrib.)
| 1843 Holtzapffel Turning I. ii. 20 Some of the hardest foreign woods, as king-wood, tulip-wood,..are rarely sound in the center. 1845 J. O. Balfour Sketch N.S. Wales ii. 39 The tulip wood, with its variegated flowers, and delightful perfume, grows in abundance. 1866 Treas. Bot. 882 The beautifully striped rose-coloured wood imported from Brazil, and called Tulip-wood by our cabinet-makers,..is the produce of P[hysocalymma] floribundum. 1884 Miller Plant-n., Harpulia Hillii and H. pendula, Tulip-wood, of Queensland. 1891 Cent. Dict. s.v. Owenia, O[wenia] cerasifera and O. venosa are in Queensland called respectively sweet and sour plum. Both have hard wood, that of the latter highly coloured.., used in cabinet-making and wheel⁓wrights' work. O. venosa is called tulip-wood. 1898 Morris Austral Eng., Tulip-wood. The name is given, in Australia, to Aphnanthe philipinensis, Planch., N.O. Urticaceæ, and to the timber of Harpullia pendula, Planch. [Moreton Bay tulip-wood], N.O. Sapindaceæ. It is, further, a synonym for the Emu-Apple [Owenia acidula, called also Native Nectarine and Native Quince]. 1906 Times 8 Feb. 7/6 A Dutch kingwood and tulipwood secretaire cabinet. |