A type of small, aromatic tree or shrub native to Southeast Asia, valued for its fragrant wood and resin.
From Malay 'altincar,' derived from Sanskrit roots relating to fragrant or precious wood. The word entered English during the colonial trade period when European merchants encountered Asian spice and timber markets.
This word captures a fascinating moment in English when explorers and traders needed names for exotic Asian plants they'd never seen before—rather than inventing new words, they borrowed directly from the local languages of the places they were trading with.
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