balata

(bə lätə, balə tə)

noun

  1. any of a genus (Manilkara, esp. M. bidentata) of tropical American trees of the sapodilla family with hard, heavy, dark-red wood used for flooring, furniture, etc.
  2. the dried milky sap of these trees, a rubberlike gum used to make golf ball covers, conveyor belts, etc.

Origin: Sp < Tupí or Galibi

See balata in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
The nonelastic rubber obtained from the latex of the South American tree Manilkara bidentata. It has been used in the manufacture of golf-ball covers and machine belts.

Origin:

Origin: American Spanish

Origin: , from Tupi

Origin: and Galibi

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