Colophan

/ˈkoʊloʊfæn/ noun

Definition

A variant or precursor form of colophony; a resinous substance used in violin bows and other applications.

Etymology

From Greek Kolophon, an ancient city in Ionia famous for its rosin production, plus the -an suffix. The word evolved through various forms as it traveled through European languages.

Kelly Says

Colophony comes from a literal place—the ancient city of Kolophon in Turkey was so famous for making high-quality rosin that Europeans named the substance after the city itself!

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