ˈg(w)īəkəm noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Spanish guayaco, guayacán, from Taino guayacan
1.
a. capitalized : a genus of tropical American trees and shrubs (family Zygophyllaceae) having pinnate leaves, mostly blue flowers, and capsular fruit
b. -s : the hard greenish brown wood yielded by trees of this genus (especially G. officinale ) — see lignum vitae
c. -s : a resin with a faint balsamic odor obtained as tears or masses from the trunk of either of two trees ( G. officinale or G. sanctum ) of this genus used formerly in medicine as a remedy for gout or rheumatism and now in various tests (as for peroxidases or blood stains) because of the formation of a blue color on oxidation
2. -s
a. : a tree ( Porlieria angustifolia ) of Texas and Mexico closely related to trees of the genus Guaiacum
b. : the wood of this tree
c. : the resinous exudate from this wood