mastic
/ˈmæstɪk/ noun
Forms mastics mastich mastiche mastick
- noun An evergreen shrub or small tree, Pistacia lentiscus (mastic tree), native to the Mediterranean.
- noun A hard, brittle, aromatic and transparent resin produced by this tree and used to make varnishes and chewing gum, and as a flavouring.
- noun An alcoholic liquor flavoured with this resin.
- noun (especially Commonwealth English) Any of various cements, usually flexible and waterproof, used as an adhesive, sealant, caulk, or filler.
Synonyms
lentiscus lentisk tears of Chios mastic tree Pistacia lentiscus
Etymology
From Middle English mastik, from Old French mastic, from Latin mastiche, from Ancient Greek μαστίχη (mastíkhē), from μαστιχάω (mastikháō, “to chew”) (note the chewing gum sense). Related to masticate. The broad sense for cements came via extension from predecessor cements made with the tree's resin. Doublet of mastika.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A low shrubby tree of the genus Pistacia (P. Lentiscus), growing upon the islands and coasts of the Mediterranean, and producing a valuable resin; --called also, mastic tree.
- noun A resin exuding from the mastic tree, and obtained by incision.
Etymology [F., fr. L. mastiche, mastichum, Gr. [Written also mastich.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “mastic”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details