Bloodwood

/ˈblʌd.wʊd/ noun

Definition

A type of tree with dark reddish wood, found in Australia and Africa, valued for its color and hardness.

Etymology

Compound of 'blood' and 'wood,' named for the deep red color of the timber. This name was applied to several tropical species by European colonists who encountered them in Africa and Australia.

Kelly Says

Bloodwood's intense crimson color comes from resins that stain tools and can look unsettlingly like actual blood when fresh-cut—this striking appearance made it famous among woodworkers and earned it a memorably dramatic common name.

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