calamander

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A wood from India and Sri Lanka, of a hazel-brown color, with black stripes, very hard in texture. It is a kind of ebony obtained from species of Diospyros, especially Diospyros quaesita, used to make furniture.

Pronunciation

/ˈkæləˌmændə/ /ˈkæləˌmændɚ/

Word forms

calamander calamanders

Etymology

From Sinhalese [script needed] (kaḷu-madīriya), perhaps from Coromandel ebony (see coromandel), changed by association with Sinhalese කළු (kaḷu, “black”); or perhaps a metathetic variant of coromandel via Dutch kalamanderhout.

Synonyms

coromandel wood coromandel
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