gutta-percha

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: gut=ta-per=cha

CIDE DICTIONARY

gutta-percha, n. [Malay gutah gum + pertja the tree from which is it procured.].

 A concrete juice produced by various trees found in the Malayan archipelago, especially by the Isonandra Gutta, syn. Dichopsis Gutta. It becomes soft, and unpressible at the tamperature of boiling water, and, on cooling, retains its new shape. It dissolves in oils and ethers, but not in water. In many of its properties it resembles caoutchouc, and it is extensively used for many economical purposes. The Mimusops globosa of Guiana also yields this material.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

gutta-percha, n. a tough plastic substance obtained from the latex of various Malaysian trees.

Etymology

Malay getah gum + percha name of a tree