padauk — ONAD

padauk /pəˈdouk, pəˈdaʊk

/ (also padouk)

▸ noun

1 timber from a tropical tree of the pea family, resembling rosewood.

2 the large hardwood tree of the Old World tropics that is widely grown for padauk. Some kinds yield a red dye that is used for religious and ritual purposes.

Genus Pterocarpus, family Leguminosae: three species, in particular African padauk (P. soyauxii).

– ORIGIN mid 19th century : from Burmese.