| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷|pərchə, -pə̄ch-, -pəich- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Malay, from gětah sap, latex + pěrcha tree producing gutta-percha
: a gray to brown tough plastic substance consisting essentially of gutta hydrocarbon with some resin that is obtained from the latex of several Malaysian sapotaceous trees of the genera Payena and Palaquium and is used especially as electric insulation for submarine cables and in dentistry — compare balata