quebracho Hear it!

quebracho definition

que·bra·cho (kā bräc̸hō)

noun pl. quebrachos -·chos

  1. a tropical American tree (Schinopsis lorentzii) of the cashew family, whose hard wood yields an extract used in tanning
  2. a South American tree (Aspidosperma quebracho-blanco) of the dogbane family, whose bark yields alkaloids formerly used in medicine
  3. the wood or bark of either of these trees

Etymology: AmSp, contr. < quiebrahacha, lit., ax breaker (because of the hardness of the wood) < quebrar, to break + hacha, ax

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.