English Explanatory Dictionary

camphire

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Camphor.
  2. The fragrant henna flower (or plant) (Lawsonia inermis, syn. Lawsonia alba)

Pronunciation

/ˈkæmfaɪə(ɹ)/ /ˈkæmfaɪ.ə(ɹ)/

Word forms

camphire camphires

Etymology

Malapropism in the English Bible of the Hebrew כֹּפֶר / כּוֹפֶר (kōp̄er, “henna”) by confusion with camphor. The Hebrew is from Akkadian 𒇒𒌓𒀀 (kupru, “bitumen, pitch”) from Akkadian 𒅗𒉺𒊒 (kapāru, “to smear, to daub on”).

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