Brazil-wood, a dark-red or yellowish-brown dye-wood, which forms a considerable article of export from Brazil. It is the produce of different species of Cesalpinia (q.v.). Much of the Brazil-wood of commerce is obtained from the heart-wood of Cesalpinia brasiliensis, a native of the West Indies.—PERNAMBUCO WOOD is the produce of C. echinata, sometimes regarded as the Brazilian form of the preceding species. The timber is called Nicaragua-wood. The Sappan-wood (C. Sappan) of the East Indies has similar properties, and is described as an article of European commerce in 1193 under the name of brasil, brasilly, &c. (cf. Span. brasil; Fr. bresil, for which Marco Polo has berzi). Thus Brazil-wood does not really owe its name to the country of its frequent origin, but the country to its abundance of red dye-woods. C. crista probably yields some of the inferior West Indian Brazil-wood.
The colouring matter is termed brasilin; strong decoctions of Brazil-wood are used by the dyer and calico-printer in the fabrication of reds, browns, &c.; it is also used in the manufacture of red ink. See INK, DYESTUFFS, and SANDALWOOD (RED).