SANDALWOOD

noun Etymology: sandal ~ (from Middle English, from Anglo-French sandali, from Medieval Latin sandalum, from Late Greek santalon, ultimately from Sanskrit candana, of Dravidian origin; akin to Tamil cāntu ~ tree) + 2wood Date: circa 1511 the compact close-grained fragrant yellowish heartwood of a parasitic tree ( Santalum album of the family Santalaceae, the ~ family) of southern Asia much used in ornamental carving and cabinetwork, any of various trees other than the ~ some of which yield dyewoods