gutta-percha Hear it!

gutta-percha definition

gutta-percha (gut′ə pʉr′c̸hə)

noun

a rubberlike gum produced from the latex of various SE Asian trees (esp. genera Palaquium and Payena) of the sapodilla family and used in electric insulation, dentistry, golf balls, etc.

Etymology: < Malay < getah, tree sap, latex + ? perca, rag, strip of cloth (so called because sold in strips): form infl. by L gutta, a drop

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