camphor

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“
The name camphor, which is Spanish, comes from the Arab words for the tree, which is 'al kafur.'

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Definitions (38)

Toggle American Heritage definitions American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. noun An aromatic crystalline compound, C10H16O, obtained naturally from the wood or leaves of the camphor tree or synthesized and used as an insect repellent, in the manufacture of film, plastics, lacquers, and explosives, and in medicine chiefly in external preparations to relieve mild pain and itching.

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Examples

  • They proceeded in silence along the gravel walk that led to the copse; Elizabeth was determined to make no effort for conversation with a woman who was now more than usually insolent and disagreeable. —  Pride and Prejudice
  • The name camphor, which is Spanish, comes from the Arab words for the tree, which is 'al kafur.' —  Find Free Articles - ArticlesBase
  • I think you should detail a company to stay here, and the rest should return to duty at Inividra, with an experienced captain promoted to overcaptain until the Captain-Commander decides. " —  Scion of Cyador
  • Pound some gum camphor and fill a wide-necked pint bottle one-third full; fill up with olive oil and set away until the camphor is absorbed. —  The Whitehouse Cookbook (1887) The Whole Comprising a Comprehensive Cyclopedia of Information for the Home
  • "You could have, " Kharl said. —  Wellspring of Chaos
 

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Camphor has been looked up 291 times, favorited 0 times, listed 23 times, and commented on 0 times.

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Etymologies (3)

Toggle American Heritage etymologies American Heritage Dictionary (1)

  1. Middle English caumfre, from Anglo-Norman, from Medieval Latin camphora, from Arabic kāfūr, possibly from Malay kapur; akin to Sanskrit karpūraḥ.

Toggle Century etymologies Century Dictionary (2)

  1. Now spelled to imitate the Middle Latin form, but until recently, and still dial., camphire, early modern English camphire, campher, camfere, from French camphre = Spanish canfor, canfora, alcanfor = Portuguese canfora, alcanfor = Italian canfora = Dutch kamfer = Middle High German campher (also gaffer), German kampfer = Danish Swedish kamfer = Polish kamfora = Bohemian kamfora, kamfr, kafr = Russian kamfara, from Middle Latin camphora, canfora, camforum, also cafura, New Latin camphora = Middle Greek New Greek κάφουρα = Turkish kāfūr, from Ar, and Persian kāfūr = Sanskrit karpūra = Hind, kāpura, camphor, from Malay kāpūr, camphor, lit, chalk, lime; kāpūr barūs, Barus camphor, the camphor of Sumatra and Java (Barūs, a place on the west coast of Sumatra); kāpūr tohōri, Japan camphor.
  2. from camphor, n.
 

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/ˈkæmfər/
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