A type of tree found in Southeast Asia, valued for its hardwood timber used in construction and furniture making.
From Malay 'bentang,' a direct borrowing from Southeast Asian languages where the tree is native, entering English through colonial trade in tropical timber during the 19th century.
Bentang wood represents a key piece of British colonial trade in Southeast Asia—these massive trees were systematically logged and shipped to Britain, though the practice has left the species increasingly rare in its native forests.
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