[san.dal.wood] n [sandal sandalwood (fr. ME, fr. MF, fr. ML sandalum, fr. LGk santalon, ultim. fr. Skt candana, of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil cantu sandalwood tree) +
[2]wood] (ca. 1511) 1: the compact close-grained fragrant yellowish heartwood of a parasitic tree (Santalum album of the family Santalaceae, the sandalwood family) of southern Asia much used in ornamental carving and cabinetwork; also: the tree that yields this wood
2: any of various trees other than the sandalwood some of which yield dyewoods; also: the fragrant wood of such a tree