Plural of copalm, a tropical tree that produces a resinous substance used in varnishes and other industrial applications.
From Spanish 'copal' (resin) combined with suffix '-m' or reference to the tree. The word ultimately derives from Nahuatl 'copalli,' the Aztec word for incense resin, reflecting the tree's origin in Mesoamerica.
The Aztecs valued copal resin so highly they burned it as sacred incense in religious ceremonies, making this one of the few English words we inherited directly from pre-Columbian trade practices that's still used in modern varnish manufacturing.
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