gamboge

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   a yellow to orange gum resin from Southeast Asian Garcinia trees, formerly used as a pigment and purgative

   The artist mixed gamboge with blue to produce a transparent green wash.

2. 2
   noun

   the strong yellow color produced by this resin

   The square was painted a vivid gamboge that glowed in the sun.

From New Latin gambogium, associated with Gambogia, an older Latin name for Cambodia, the region from which the resin reached Europe. The substance's vivid hue then gave its name to the color.

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