brazil

noun

1. 1

   obsoleteA red-orange dye obtained from brazil wood.

   A small Quantity of Saffron will Tinct more then a very great Quantity of Brasil.

2. 2

   The hard, brown wood of a certain species of the tribe Caesalpinieae; originally sappan (Biancaea sappan), of the East Indies, and later brazilwood, Paubrasilia echinata.

   The Prouince Brasilia tooke his name of the woode called Brasill.

   Thou know'st my brittle temper's prone to break. Are my bones brazil or my flesh of oak?

   [P]ernambucco – the finest brasil from Brazil, so strong it almost resembles iron – became the favoured material for good bows.

3. 3

   A Brazil nut.

   I picked up a handful of brazils from the bowl.

4. 4

   A seam of coal containing iron pyrites

Forms

plural

brazils