Defn: A native or an inhabitant of Brazil. Brazilian pebble. See
Pebble, n., 2.
BRAZILIN
Braz"i*lin, n. Etym: [Cf. F. brésiline. See Brazil.] (Chem.)
Defn: A substance contained in both Brazil wood and Sapan wood, from which it is extracted as a yellow crystalline substance which is white when pure. It is colored intensely red by alkalies. [Written also brezilin.]
BRAZIL NUT
Bra*zil" nut`. (Bot.)
Defn: An oily, three-sided nut, the seed of the Bertholletia excelsa; the cream nut.
Note: From eighteen to twenty-four of the seed or "nuts" grow in a hard and nearly globular shell.
BRAZIL WOOD
Bra*zil" wood`. Etym: [OE. brasil, LL. brasile (cf. Pg. & Sp. brasil,
Pr. bresil, Pr. bresil); perh. from Sp. or Pg. brasa a live coal (cf.
Braze, Brasier); or Ar. vars plant for dyeing red or yellow. This
name was given to the wood from its color; and it is said that King
Emanuel, of Portugal, gave the name Brazil to the country in South
America on account of its producing this wood.]
1. The wood of the oriental Cæsalpinia Sapan; — so called before the discovery of America.
2. A very heavy wood of a reddish color, imported from Brazil and other tropical countries, for cabinet-work, and for dyeing. The best is the heartwood of Cæsalpinia echinata, a leguminous tree; but other trees also yield it. An interior sort comes from Jamaica, the timber of C. Braziliensis and C. crista. This is often distinguished as Braziletto , but the better kind is also frequently so named.
BREACH Breach, n. Etym: [OE. breke, breche, AS. brice, gebrice, gebrece (in comp.), fr. brecan to break; akin to Dan. bræk, MHG. breche, gap, breach. See Break, and cf. Brake (the instrument), Brack a break] .